There was outrage in Imo State as a police inspector allegedly shot dead a 27-year-old commercial motorcyclist, popularly known as okada rider, for not wearing a face mask.
The incident reportedly occurred around about 3pm on Tuesday at Banana Junction in the Orlu town of Imo State.
PUNCH correspondent learnt that a detachment of police team was drafted to the scene to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
An eyewitness told PUNCH’S correspondent that the victim, a commercial motorcyclist who was carrying a passenger, was shot at a close range by one of the policemen on stop-and- search duty.
Another eyewitness told PUNCH’S correspondent that the inspector killed the victim after he refused to give him money for not wearing a face mask
He said: “He demanded money from the okada rider but the guy refused. All of a sudden he cocked his rifle and shot him at close range. The guy died immediately.”
PUNCH’S correspondent also learnt that on seeing that the motorcyclist had died, the inspector took to his heels but people within went after him.
But the state Commissioner of Police, Isaac Akinmodele, said that the dead rider had attacked his men with a machete.
The CP, however,added that the trigger-happy inspector and all the persons involved in the incident would be arrested.
