Riot in P’Harcourt as policeman kills tricycle operator

Riot broke out in the Rukpoku area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, following the killing by a policeman of a commercial tricycle operator identified as Schoolboy.

Angry youths and colleagues of the Keke driver were said to have taken over the Airport Road to protest the incident, which happened around 7am.

The victim was reportedly gunned down for refusing to give N100 to the policemen.

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested, disarmed and detained the policeman.

Some youths were reported to be plotting to avenge the death of the victim by burning the police station of the killer policeman.

Heavy deployment of policemen in the affected area quelled the protest.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, Nnamdi Omoni, a superintendent of police, urged the people to be calm, promising that justice would be done.

He said, “I am aware of the incident at Rukpoku. One of our men killed a Keke rider. The policeman has been disarmed and he is detained now.

“We have mobilised our men in the area to restore calm and contain a further breakdown of law and order.

“We are pleading for calm to allow us to bring him to justice. Two wrongs can never make a right. The Keke driver has died and the man who killed him must receive his punishment.

“Killing a policeman or burning down a station cannot bring him back to life or give him justice; instead it will deteriorate the situation.”