A prison warder on Wednesday shot and killed a taxi driver on Elelewon-Akpajo Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The trigger-happy warder also shot and injured a passenger sitting by the side of the driver, identified as Rose Pauline.
Trouble started when a group of warders,
who was conveying some prisoners in a Black Maria, was held up in a
gridlock about 9am on the road.
It was gathered that the prison warders decided to drive against the traffic in the opposite lane, which had fewer vehicles.
The warders reportedly met an oncoming
taxi, whose driver refused to give up his right of way, a development
that that impeded the warders’ movement and angered some of them.
Eyewitnesses said one of the warders
jumped out of the vehicle and ordered the taxi driver, who had about
four passengers in his car, to leave the road.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the
driver, who was on the right lane, told them that he was not driving
against traffic flow and wondered why he would be ordered to leave the
road.
An eyewitness, Mr. David Ato, told our
correspondent that it was at that point that one of the prison warders
pulled the trigger and shot the taxi driver and the passenger beside him
(driver).
The incident triggered a protest by some
youths in the area, but a group of soldiers later stormed the scene and
dispersed the angry youths. The warders also drove away with their
vehicle.
While the driver was confirmed dead, the passenger, who was bleeding profusely, was rushed to the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital.
When contacted, the state Police Public
Relations Officer, Mrs. Angela Agabe, confirmed the incident, adding
that the warder had been disarmed by policemen and arrested.
Agabe added that the prison warder was taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department for interrogation.
She said, “The incident happened at
Elelewon Junction and the police disarmed and arrested the warder
responsible for the act. He has been taken to the State Criminal
Investigation Department for interrogation.”
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