The policemen had initially demanded N50,000 as a bribe from the suspect before it was later reduced to N20,000.
Four police officers attached to the Anti-Kidnap Squad of the Delta state police command, Asaba, have been arrested by the command over the killing of one of their colleagues.
The late policeman was shot dead by a colleague while they were on their way to collect a bribe of N20,000 from a suspect.
The unidentified policeman attached to the squad had on Monday at about 6:00 pm along Ibusa Road, Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state, killed his colleague, identified as Inspector Chidi.
The policemen had initially demanded N50,000 as a bribe from the suspect before it was later reduced to N20,000.
The suspect, identified as Nicholas, had told SaharaReporters, that on Monday, he drove from Ibusa to Asaba to look for fuel to buy following the scarcity of the product in his area.
According to him, on his way back home at about 5:30 pm, he met the police team.
"As I was going back home at about 5:30 pm, I met a team of policemen along the Ibusa Road, Asaba, and they stopped me for a search. After checking my car and vehicle papers as demanded, nothing incriminating was found in me and all my car documents were up to date. But the team still demanded a bribe of N50,000 from me or I would be taken to the police headquarters where I would be detained.
“All my plea to them that I am hypertensive and asthmatic fell on deaf ears as they insisted that I must give them N50,000. I told them I didn't have a dime with me and they asked to know the amount of money I had.
"Following my health condition and with the way and manner the police treat people and put innocent people in jail, where some lose their lives, I told them I had N20,000 at home. Two of the officers were delegated to follow me home to collect the N20,000. On our way to Ibusa where I reside, my car ran out of fuel and it stopped. At that point, the policemen started shouting at me and an argument ensued between us. One of the policemen shot my rear tyre and that attracted a crowd of people.
"Even, some soldiers who were passing by stopped and the crowd asked the policemen to allow me to go since I committed no offence but they refused. After shooting my tyre, I said I would not go anywhere again. As the argument was still going on, the same policeman who shot my tyre was about to raise his gun again when it accidentally discharged and the bullet hit his colleague directly in the head. He died on the spot. At this time, everybody including myself started running for our dear lives. We learnt his body has been deposited in a mortuary in Asaba."
Reacting, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bright Edafe, who had earlier said he was not aware of the story, gave a different version of what happened.
He also said he was not aware of any arrest of police officers, adding that an investigation was ongoing.
He said, "Yes, a policeman was shot but the story that the officer was going to collect a bribe of N20,000 was nothing but all tissue of lies.
“The true story is that the policemen were on duty on that fateful day and there was an altercation before the gunshot.
“A group of boys numbering about 30 to 35 boys or thereabout was about mobbing the policemen and there was an altercation and that policeman was shot but we don't know where that gunshot came from. But the investigation will unravel who shot that officer.
“After the shot, the boys disappeared into thin air. But as I talk to you, four of their vehicles they left at the scene have been recovered and now in police custody. What has happened is very sad."