Panic erupted in the Agip Junction area along Ada George Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday evening after an unidentified police officer allegedly shot and killed a motorist, leaving three bystanders injured.
According to an anonymous eyewitness, officers stationed at the junction flagged down a vehicle at approximately 5:00 p.m., but the driver reportedly refused to stop.
He said, “This evening, at about 5pm, the police officers close to Agip/Ada George Junction stopped a man who was driving, but he refused to stop. So, the policeman shot him from behind, and the bullet pierced his chest. He died.
“The police officer fired three bullets. The vehicle lost control and hit three other people.
“The man died at a hospital close to the junction. We do not know the chances of survival of the other three people. I don’t know why a policeman would fire a gun at a citizen who was not armed.
In response, one of the officers opened fire on the moving vehicle, striking the driver in the chest. The fatally wounded driver subsequently lost control of the car and ploughed into a crowd of nearby onlookers, resulting in three additional injuries.
The incident sparked immediate tension throughout the neighborhood as a crowd of local youths surrounded and disarmed the police officer responsible before additional police units arrived to escort him from the scene.
When contacted for official confirmation, Rivers State Police Command spokesperson ASP Blessing Agabe stated he would provide details, but had not yet responded at the time of publication.
Backstory…
The latest shooting in Port Harcourt comes against a long-running backdrop of concerns over police use of firearms and alleged extrajudicial killings in Rivers State.
Several civilians have died in and around Port Harcourt following encounters with security personnel, prompting calls for investigations and greater accountability.
One notable case occurred in 2023, when Alafuro Peterside, a 42-year-old father of three, reportedly died after a police bullet struck him in Rivers State. Police said the officer opened fire after receiving information about suspected robbers, but a stray bullet hit Peterside.
Other notable cases include; the 2024 killing of Ndidi Livingstone, the March 2026 fatal shooting of a man during an incident at NAF Harmony Estate among others.
These are also clear cases of “Nigeria happening to its citizens”
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