By Nahum Sule (Taraba State Correspondent, in Jalingo)
The chief driver of Lau local government chairman, Oliver Ezra, was shot dead by a police officer over a mere argument at the Lankaviri police checkpoint along Jalingo-Yola road.
According to a family source, the incident happened on Friday when the deceased Oliver Ezra was driving on the official car of the local government chairman and engaged in a heated argument with the police when the police couldn't control the traffic at the checkpoint to make a swift pass for them.
The immediate younger brother of the deceased, Polycarp Oliver, who lead the protest to the Taraba State Government House, said "He was face to face with the opposite car at the middle of the checkpoint when an argument broke out demanding that the police should have maintained the traffic well".
According to him "it was two policemen that shot him because when he was rushed to the federal medical center in Jalingo, there was a bullet hole at his back and front".
He was shot on Friday, November 19, around 6 pm, but he didn't die immediately, he was rushed to the hospital where he gave up the ghost on Tuesday, November 2, in the morning", he said.
Addressing the bereaved protesters, the Special Adviser to the governor on political matters, Alhaji Abubakar Bawa, condoled with them and asked them to return home, assuring them that justice will be served with immediate effect.
On receiving the news of the passing away of Oliver Ezra, the Taraba State Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Shokoya, called a press conference and addressed the matters.
He asserts that "The Nigeria police force is a professional body and will not allow any form of misconduct. Sergeant Haruna Idi has been detained and he's in our custody. He will be taking to court to face the full wrath of the law".
"A vehicle was coming on the opposite direction, and the impatience from both the two drivers made them get stock in the middle of the checkpoint. Oliver Ezra now came down to address the police personnel at the checkpoint which broke into an argument that involved them shooting", he said.
The members of the family have called on the government to let justice prevail over the death of Oliver Ezra. NNL.
