Damiete Green, a lady, is in critical condition at the University Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, UPTH, Rivers state, writhing in pain from gunshots after a soldier shot indiscriminately at a fleeing transporter of illegally refined products fired at a wrong vehicle conveying her.
The shooter, identified as Sgt Yinka Ayileka, is said to be one of a team of Army guards attached to the Port Harcourt Maximum Security Custodial Center on Harbour Road, Township Area who are known for abandoning their core duty to state illegal road checkpoints where they collect tolls from the motorist and illegal fuel carriers in the neighbourhood.
An eyewitness said the incident on Tuesday occurred close to the popular Rachael Hotel in an area where the Army guards watching over the maximum prison had mounted illegal checkpoints, resulting in the unfortunate shooting of 25-year-old Green
Sources narrated that the reckless shooting started when a Toyota Camry car suspected to be conveying illegally refined petroleum product, better known as ‘kpofire’ in the locality, refused to pay the usual ‘toll’ to the security team at the illegal checkpoint.
A source narrated, “The soldier pursued the car and jumped on the bonnet. When the driver refused to stop, he opened fire and started shooting indiscriminately. There were several vehicles trapped in the gridlock caused by the checkpoint and the victim was in one of those, a Lexus 330 salon.”
The driver of the Lexus who was helping to give Green and other occupants who reside in the same neighbourhood a free ride home confirmed that bullets from the reckless shooting soldier’s gun went through the back passenger door, lodging into the back of the Green who sat with another passenger.
Police Public Relations Officer, Rivers Command, Grace Eringe-Koko declined to comment on the matter referring the reporter to enquire from the Army Public Relations Officer, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Maj Iyke Iweha who said he was not aware of the incident and would need time to check and get back.
Deputy Superintendent of Corrections, Juliet Ofoni, Spokesperson, Nigeria Correctional Service, Rivers Command, was also contacted to confirm the incident, and the military guards at the custodial center involved in the shooting, equally asked to be given space to check and get back at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the victim, under medicare at the crowded Emergency Unit of UPTH, lamented that “I was scheduled for surgery on Thursday but till now (Friday evening) nothing has happened.
Before the referral to UPTH, some pallets were said to have been extracted from the victim at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, BMH, on the fateful Tuesday the incident happened, leaving most remaining bullets still embedded in her back, and spine area.
Sympathizers and friends suspect an attempt by security operatives to sweep an extrajudicial shooting under the carpet, by blaming the incident on stray bullets during alleged cult gangs’ clash in the area.
“It is very painful that the media could be used to spread a blatant lie to hide the evil done by the soldier who was on illegal duty at the post. Nigerians should help us get justice and to ensure that our sister does not die,” they appealed.
Source: Vanguard
