Iruoma Douglas
The Rivers State Police Command is saddened over the killing of a woman Police Sergeant on duty at Market Junction in Eneke, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
It was gathered that a trigger happy Sergeant Bitrus Osaiah, attached to the Task Force on Decongestion, in the bid of threatening a purported offender, shot female Sergeant, Licensed Elekwachi, who was pleading that the Task Force group should pardon the offender.
The offender was a hawker and the Task Force were looking for people who contravene the new rules put in place to decongest the streets of Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State, because of the rampaging Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Global Upfront Newspapers (GUN) learnt that the deceased female Sergeant, who finished nursing her baby across the road where a nanny was taking care of the baby, met her sudden death in an effort to intervene for a civilian. She died instantly as the bullet hit her head.
Meanwhile, the Police suspect and two other members of the Task Force have been arrested and would be charged for the offence after investigation.
In a statement signed by the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Nnamdi Omoni, the Police Command expressed regret that a zealous officer could take the live of his colleague on duty.
According to the statement: “The Rivers State Police Command regrets to announce the death of W/Sgt Lovender Elekwachi who until her untimely death was serving at Eneka Division and was posted to the Eneka roundabout on traffic duties. The late Woman Sergeant was shot while controlling traffic by Sergeant Bitrus Osaiah attached to the Operations Department of the Command.
“Meanwhile, the Sergeant who is said to be attached the Rivers State Task Force on Decongestion, has been arrested, disarmed and undergoing Orderly Room Trial. Two other members of the Task Force have also been arrested and are being questioned. The Hilux vehicle belonging to the Task Force has been impounded and the corpse of the Woman Sergeant deposited in the mortuary.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph G. Mukan, psc (+) has ordered investigation into the matter with a view to unraveling the circumstances that led to her death and has appealed for calm, pending the outcome of the investigation, promising that the interest of justice must be served in the circumstance.”