PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria — A police orderly, whose name has been withheld, was shot and killed in a shocking incident near the Landmark Hotel on Olu Obasanjo Road in Port Harcourt, the capital city of Rivers State.
The incident occurred on Friday, August 25, 2023, further heightening concerns over the region’s law enforcement safety and insecurity.
According to eyewitness accounts, the male police inspector was escorting his principal when unknown assailants in a grey 2005 Toyota Corolla shot him and swiftly escaped.
Reports indicate that the attackers also seized the inspector’s AK-47 rifle and beret before escaping.
“The entire episode was over in a matter of minutes, but it felt like hours,” said an eyewitness, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns.
“We heard the gunfire, and before we knew it, they had grabbed the officer’s weapon and sped off.”
Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, confirmed the incident in a short statement to journalists.
“Effort is ongoing to arrest the fleeing hoodlums and recover the rifle,” she said.
The fallen officer’s body has been deposited at the Military Hospital in Port Harcourt for autopsy.
The brazen attack and the theft of a service weapon have raised questions about the safety of law enforcement officers and the general public in Rivers State, which has had its share of security challenges.
The incident also comes amidst broader discussions on police reform and resource allocation within the force.
The stealing of an AK-47, a weapon intended for severe combat situations, from a police orderly underscores the risks that come with the increasing militarization of police work in various parts of Nigeria.
As investigations continue, the incident serves as a grim reminder of the ever-present threat of violence that hangs over those tasked with maintaining law and order in an increasingly volatile environment.
