A motorist identified simply as Anthony was allegedly shot dead by a police officer at the Agip-Ada George junction in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday evening.
The incident, which occurred at about 5pm, reportedly triggered panic in the area as residents and passers-by rushed to the scene after the motorist lost control of his vehicle and crashed into three people.
According to an eyewitness, the incident began when police officers stationed around the junction reportedly flagged down Anthony, who was driving a private vehicle.
The witness said the motorist allegedly failed to stop, prompting the officers to pursue him.
“One of the policemen started shooting. He shot three times. The bullet hit the driver from behind and pierced his chest,” the witness said.
The impact reportedly caused Anthony to lose control of the vehicle, which veered off the road and struck three people. The victims were said to have sustained serious injuries.
Residents subsequently pulled the driver from the vehicle and rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he reportedly died.
The eyewitness further alleged that the officer fired several shots into the air while attempting to escape from the scene.
“Some youths confronted him, collected the gun from him and started beating him. While they were beating the policeman, other police officers arrived and rescued him,” the witness added.
A video circulating online also showed residents and business owners gathered around the scene following the incident.
However, the circumstances surrounding the shooting have not been officially established.
The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Blessing Agaba, confirmed knowledge of the incident but said the command was still gathering information.
“Yes, I heard of the incident. I’m still getting details from the DPO to get the details. I will release an official statement soon,” Agaba, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said.
The police are expected to issue an official statement after obtaining further details from the Divisional Police Officer and investigating the incident.
