On August 16, 2024, the Nigerian Police Force, specifically the Abia State Command, officially denied any wrongdoing in the tragic shooting incident that led to the death of an unidentified truck driver in Aba. This statement was made by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police Maureen Chinaka, who addressed the media to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to the police statement, investigations into the shooting are ongoing. “Regarding the shooting incident and the death of a civilian around the Flyover at Alaoji Area in Aba, we have conducted preliminary investigations,” Chinaka explained. “There is no credible evidence to suggest that police officers mistook themselves for members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and fired at each other.”
The police acknowledged that a shooting incident did occur in the area, resulting in the tragic death of the truck driver. However, they emphasized that the identity of the shooters involved and their motivations remain unclear and are still under investigation. The police further encouraged anyone with pertinent information about the incident to come forward and report it to the nearest police station.
Reports indicate that the shooting incident involved a confrontation between police patrol teams from the Aba Area Command and those from Umuahia. Eyewitness accounts suggest that the officers, who were operating in commercial buses, failed to identify each other before the exchange of gunfire began. This confusion led to a chaotic scene, with local shop owners and passersby along the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway scrambling for safety to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
Unfortunately, amidst the gunfire, the truck driver was struck and killed. Eyewitnesses claimed that after realizing the individuals involved in the shooting were all police officers, an argument broke out among them, as they began to trade blame regarding the incident. Reports indicate that there was a reluctance among the officers to take responsibility for the death of the driver.
The incident has sparked outrage and concern among community members, raising questions about police conduct and accountability. The Abia State Police Command’s denial of culpability highlights the complexities that can arise in situations involving police operations, particularly when miscommunication and confusion lead to tragic outcomes.
As the investigation continues, the local community hopes for clarity and justice regarding the circumstances of the truck driver’s death, and many are calling for greater transparency and accountability within the police force to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.