Police sergeant in Onitsha reportedly chases tricycle rider to death over N100 bribe

- A police sergeant in Onitsha, Anambra state, was said to have chased a tricycle rider to death over N100 bribe

- The officer, Sergeant Magaji and his colleagues reportedly demanded N100 bribe from the tricycle rider, who was said to have refused

- But the police have refuted the claims, saying that the victim was smoking Indian hemp and took too his heels when he sighted policemen

A 22-year-old tricycle rider identified as Samuel Agu, has been crushed to death by a speeding bus after he was reportedly chased by a police sergeant attached to the Bridge Head police division in Onitsha, Anambra state.

Punch reports that his offence was his refusal to pay a N100 bribe reportedly demanded from him by the officer simply identified as Sergeant Magaji and his colleagues.

Legit.ng notes that the police claimed that the victim was sighted smoking Indian hemp near the station and was crushed by the bus when he was running away from the police.

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Recounting what transpired, Agu’s elder brother, Ikechukwu, said: “My brother operated within Bridge Head Wood Market. I learnt that on that day around 3:00 pm, the sergeant and his colleagues stopped him and demanded N100 from him, but he refused to give them the money.

“As he made to leave the spot, Sergeant Magaji chased and shot at him. He was knocked down by an oncoming bus while he was running to avoid being hit by bullets.

“Other riders pursued Magaji. He ran inside the station and his colleagues shielded him. My brother was rushed to a hospital where he died.”

According to Ikechukwu, the sergeant was detained but was said to have escaped from custody.

He said: “The DPO told us that the policeman escaped when he was taken out to urinate. Our parents had died and he had been struggling all alone to further his education.

“My brother lived in Asaba and came to work at Onitsha every day. It’s N100 fare from his residence to his place of work. I want justice for him.”

The killing of the tricycle was condemned by a human rights activist and chairman of Human Rights Defenders of Nigeria (HRDN), Dede Uzor.

He said: “HRDN has been alerted by the family of Chinedu Samuel Agu, who was despicably murdered over his refusal to pay what the police allegedly called ‘N100 settlement money.’ The brutal killing took place a few metres from the Bridge Head police division.

“Citizen Chinedu Samuel Agu was forcefully ejected from his keke, hit with the butt of the gun and pushed into an oncoming vehicle which led to his instant death.

“The officers who perpetrated this heinous crime were aided by the DPO and immediately after the incident, he arrested the said Sergeant Magaji while two other policemen were neither questioned nor interrogated over their despicable roles.

“When the family of Agu was invited by the DPO, they were told to their amazement that the detained Sgt Magaji had escaped from lawful detention and pleaded with the family to proceed to the mortuary to carry their son for burial.”

"We appeal to the police under the leadership of CP Garba Umar and his counterpart at SCIID, DCP Bassey Essien, to immediately use their good offices to make sure that proper investigation is not only conducted, but justice be achieved accordingly.

“This murder happened in broad daylight and should not be swept under the carpet as the DPO is making serious efforts to personally conduct an autopsy on the deceased just to cover the cause of death. The DPO should be investigated and demoted if found culpable.”

Responding to the allegation, the DPO, SP Godson Ubani, said: “That story is unfounded. Uzor was the one concocting all those lies. The man (Agu) was seen near the park close to the police station smoking India hemp. On sighting policemen, he ran across the expressway without minding the bus, which crushed him. He was taken to the hospital, where he died. The driver is in our custody and the bus has been impounded. His name is Ozomara Kenneth.

“The two families have settled the matter but because of the outcry it generated, the matter will be charged to court.

“Sergeant Magaji and other policemen were coming out when the teenager saw them and started running. There was nothing like firing. The police picked the butt of the drug. The deceased was a lout, who helped in loading vehicle. He was not a tricycle rider. He was working for a hoodlum at the park.”

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the policeman, Onyebuchi Nweke, who shot and killed a motorcyclist in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital, was arrested and dismissed by the police.

The suspect was said to have shot the Okada rider, Ofim Ejika, along the popular Water Works road in Abakaliki on Wednesday, April 25.

If any police officer misbehaves with you, call any of these numbers - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng