Stampede at Agbarho as policeman shoots commercial bike rider on the rib

There was pandemonium for about an hour at the ever busy ‘Five Junction’ in Agbarho near Warri, Delta State between 8 and 9 am on Wednesday February 11 when a policeman on routine check point shot a commercial motor bike rider on the rib over the bike rider’s inability to tender his motor cycle documents, Fresh Angle International can exclusively report.

An eye witness told Our Correspondent  in a telephone chat that trouble started when three policemen on mufti mounted a check point at the popular ‘Five Junction’, Agbarho in the morning when residents of Agbarho were hurrying to their various business destinations, both within and outside the town.

Report says one of the policemen stopped a motor bike rider and demanded to see the papers of his motor bike. The bike rider told the policeman that his motor bike papers were at home. The response of the commercial cyclist infuriated the policeman and attempt by the cops to handcuff the motor bike rider led to a heated argument which attracted passersby and other commercial motor cyclists.

Apparently afraid of possible attack by the commercial motor cyclists and other passersby that came to the scene as a result of the heated argument, the policeman opened fire and shot the motor bike rider who could not tender his bike particulars on the right side of his rib.The commercial cyclist was immediately rushed to the Agbarho General Hospital by members of the Agbarho Vigilante Task Force who were alerted on what was happening.

Our Correspondent reports that when the motor bike riders (popularly called Okada men) on the scene saw their colleague on the floor in his pool of blood, they were angered and in pains set up burn-fire at the busy ‘Five Junction’. The angry motor cyclists mobilized and stormed the Agbarho Police Station with an alleged intent to burn down the station.

On getting to the police station, another police officer on sighting the mob shot one of the protesting bike riders on the leg to scare the others. This made most of the other protesters to scamper for safety, while a couple of them were apprehended with their motor bikes by the policemen on duty at the station.

It was also gathered as at press time that the commercial motor cyclist who was shot on his rib has been transferred to Oghara Teaching Hospital, while his colleague who was shot on the leg has been discharged.

As at the time of this report, the police in Agbarho could not be reached for comment and the motor bike riders apprehended at the police station have been moved to Delta State Police Headquarters, Asaba.

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