There was tension and panic among motorists and pedestrians as result of
the shootings between Mobile Policemen and some Naval men around Mobile
Police, MOPOL, Barracks, off ‘Mummy B’ road, Port Harcourt, the Rivers
State capital at about 6.pm.
It was not clear what led to the clash
that led to exchange of gunfire that made motorists and pedestrians who
were initially trapped in traffic jam to abandon their cars and took to
their heels in different directions.
The sound of gunshots caused
traffic gridlock at GRA junction, Port Harcourt /Aba expressway, Mummy B
road and Stadium road as motorists and Pedestrians tried to hurry home.
Eyewitnesses said the fracas started over right of way in the ever busy and congested roads in the rush hour traffic.
According
to eyewitnesses who called into WAZOBIA/Info.fm radio Port Harcourt,
evening programme traffic report said they could not fathom what caused
the verbal exchange before they heard of gun shots.
Another
eyewitness said: “A man suspected to be a Mobile Policeman sprayed a
substance suspected to be teargas on the face of a military man. At that
instant the military man cocked his rifle and shot a man in mufti.
Within minutes other Mobile Policemen swarm the scene and tried to
disarm him. In the ensuing melee shots were fired. I saw a military man
running in blood stains.”
A couple of other motorists confirmed
hearing several gunshots around the MOPOL barracks area prompting them
to take alternative routes home.
The Rivers Police Public Relations
Officer, Ahmad Muhammad, confirmed there was an incident between the
Police and Naval Personnel but that the matter had been resolved.
He denied that there was casualty in the clash that lasted for half and hour.
Clashes between the military and policemen occur frequently is always a commonplace at resulting to deaths.
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