Tension in Rivers community as soldiers beat policeman to death

Soldiers stationed at Eleme Petrochemical gate located at Port Harcourt in Rivers State have reportedly beaten a police inspector identified as Hosea Yakubu, to death.

WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that the deceased, Yakubu incurred the wrath of the soldiers when he drove against traffic while on duty on August 16.

Newsmen reported that a brother to the victim disclosed that Yakubu and two other officers were returning from a patrol duty and chose to drive against traffic to avoid a gridlock along Eleme road.

He said when his brother got to the company’s gate, a military man on mufti, flagged them down and confronted them for driving against traffic.

According to the Nation report, heated argument ensued between the policemen and soldiers prompting one of the soldiers to slap the police driver.

The late Yakubu who reportedly alighted from their patrol van and scolded the soldier for slapping his colleague was immediately engaged by other soldiers in a fight.

The source lamented one of the soldiers used a thick wood to hit his late brother’s head until he fell to the ground and could no longer move.

He said his injured brother was later rushed to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) for medical attention but died at the hospital.

He said: “My brother and two other policemen drove one-way because of hold up. When they got to Eleme Petrochemical gate an Army man on mufti stopped them and they started quarrelling and later started fighting.

“One of the soldiers who later joined the fight and used a thick plank to hit my brother’s head and he fell and couldn’t move.

“He was subsequently rushed to the nearest hospital from where he was referred to UPTH and admitted at the ICU.

After 24 hours on admission, he gave up. Up until today, neither the police nor the military have said anything or taken action to bring the culprits to book.”

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nnamdi Omoni, said the command was aware of the incident but details of the incident were still sketchy.

When contacted, spokesman of the Nigerian Army, 6 Division in Port Harcourt, Charles Ekeocha, said he was yet to be briefed on the incident.