A 27-year-old man was killed yesterday at the popular Banana Junction in Amaifeke town, near Orlu, in Imo State, by an Inspector of Police attached to the Orlu Division.
The inspector was among a team of policemen who mounted roadblock in that area and used the opportunity to enforce the wearing of face masks in compliance with directive of the state government to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The deceased, who was alleged to have hailed from the nearby Okporo community, was carrying a passenger and was not putting on a face mask when the inspector stopped him.
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Sources at the scene of the incident alleged that the man was asked to pay some amount of money before he would be allowed to depart with his motorcycle. But the deceased insisted that he would not pay because the motorcycles of other riders who did not wear face masks were not impounded.
“When this argument was going on, the inspector for unknown reasons, shot him at close range and the man died instantly, forcing the policemen to enter their vehicle and ran away,” an eyewitness said.
The incident caused unrest in the town as residents trooped out to protest the killing. It was gathered that policemen manning the Headquarters of Orlu Local Government Area quickly removed their uniforms and disguised as civilians while trying to flee from impending mayhem.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
