Some youths have staged a protest in the Agip/Ada George axis of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State over the alleged killing of a University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) graduate, identified as Anthony Obodo, by the police. Residents of the area told Daily Trust on Friday that the police personnel on duty at Agip […]
Some youths have staged a protest in the Agip/Ada George axis of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State over the alleged killing of a University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) graduate, identified as Anthony Obodo, by the police.
Residents of the area told Daily Trust on Friday that the police personnel on duty at Agip junction/Ada George shot to death the late Anthony, who was waiting for his call-up letter from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and injured three others, who were inside the car he was driving.
The late Anthony was said to have used his vehicle to run a transport service to save money for his planned National Youth Service, before the unfortunate incident.
According to sources, when the Police double crossed the bus the deceased was driving, and made their demand to the driver to give them some money, the driver, said that he had no money to give to them and that he wasn’t aware that he was being chased by the police.
A policeman attached to the patrol team allegedly shot the man, as a stray bullet also hit a POS operator sitting under her umbrella by the road side, injuring her.
The passengers of the bus and other injured victims at the bus stop were rushed to the nearby health facility, Palmas Hospital, for emergency care, where the driver of the bus was confirmed dead.
The youths, who took to the street on Friday, called for the arrest and prosecution of the police officer who allegedly fired the deadly round that killed the victim.
Meanwhile, some residents of the area, who witnessed what transpired between the deceased and the police officers, said the UNIPORT graduate had allegedly failed to stop when he was flagged down by the police officers on patrol around the Junction.
They said that one of the officers allegedly opened fire at the vehicle after the driver refused to stop.
The father of the deceased, Mr. Princewill Obodo, from Agba Ndele, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, expressed anger with reports that described his son as a fraudster popularly known as Yahoo Boy after the incident.
He called for justice over the alleged killing of his son, saying that as a struggling young man, his late son was only doing a legitimate business to fend for himself before he was untimely murdered.
Police authorities in Rivers State are yet to speak on the incident, as the Police Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, didn’t pick calls since Thursday evening and throughout Friday to confirm the incident.
