The policeman, Ebri Ubi, arrested in connection with the killing of a trader, Onyeka Emmanuel Ibe, in Asaba, the Delta State capital on Wednesday, April 5, has said that it was never his intention to shoot or even kill the deceased.
A riot broke out in the capital city after Ibe who recently got married was shot dead at a checkpoint in Anwai-Ugbolu road, near Asaba. by the policeman. Late Ibe was said to be on his way to work when he was stopped by policemen at a checkpoint along the Ugbolu-Asaba Highway.
According to his colleagues, he refused to offer a N100 bribe which angered one of the policemen who shot him in the head, killing him on the spot. Angry youths had stormed the police headquarters with his corpse, demanding justice.
A statement released by the spokesperson of the command, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed that the police officer accused of killing the deceased had been arrested.
While giving his account of what transpired, Ebri said: “I heard a voice from about 10 to 15km, saying, ‘hold him, hold him’. Before I could turn, the young man raised his left hand to my rifle and said ‘I will kill you. Before I could drag it from him, my belt entered the trigger then it fired. It was not intentional or deliberate to kill him,” he said.
