Gridlock: Protesters Launch Massive Attack On Police, Wike Calms Them Down Personally

Residents of Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers state, woke up to an early morning rowdy protest on Saturday, following the killing of a commercial bus driver by a trigger-happy policeman on Friday, August 7.

A police sergeant, James Imhalu, who was on a “stop and search” duty had, at about 12.30pm, on Friday, shot and killed the driver, David Legbaraa (37), at the Whimpy Area of Mile 4, Ikwerre Road.

The action, described by the police authority as “in clearly unacceptable and avoidable circumstance”, led to protest from drivers and members of the public who saw the action of James as an injustice.

The protest extended to major highways and caused traffic gridlock that crippled most parts of the city till around 1.30pm today.

READ ALSO: Police Arrest Notorious Kidnappers In Rivers, Recover Arms And Ammunition

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state condemned the killing and vowed that the killer-cop would not go unpunished, even as the state commissioner of police, Chris Ezike, and the lawyer to the family of the deceased, Gold Baridembom, sued for peace.

Addressing the angry protesters at the Mile 4 Market Junction, Governor Wike said the days of impunity were gone, assuring that the policeman would be brought to justice. The governor pleaded with the protesters to leave the roads and allow normalcy to return, maintaining that the unarmed person who was killed would not die in vain.

He went on to assure that, as a governor he would continue to work towards the protection of all residents of the state:

“I have just placed a call to the Commissioner of Police and I am assuring you that the policeman who killed this unarmed citizen will face justice.

“Do not take the laws into your hands go home and allow me take the necessary action to ensure that justice is done,” Wike said.

Police brutality and overuse of force are rather common in Nigeria. Recently, naij.com gathered a special set of photos exposing such officers and their offences.

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