A Police officer identified as Bello Garba has been arrested and detained for allegedly shooting one person to death and injuring three others in Sokoto on Friday September 25.
According to the state police command, the arrested policeman shot 25-year-old Aminu Abdulrahman to death and injured Junaidu Abba, Babangida Muhammad and Awaisu Alti.
Police spokesperson in the state, ASP Muhammad Sadiq said victims of the incident were sharing money doled out by Gov. Aminu Tambuwal during the Juma’at prayers to mark Nigeria’s 60th Independence anniversary, held at Sultan Bello Jumu’at mosque.
The statement read;
“The policeman unprofessionally fired without reasonable justification at that material time. The Sokoto State Police Command condemns in its entirety the unwarranted, uncivil and unprofessional conduct of a Police Sergeant on special duty in the state.
”Commissioner of Police. Mr Sani Kaoje had ordered the detention and trial of the erring officer and charged the state Criminal Investigation Department to speed up investigation and come up with objective findings.
”The incident occurred at about 2:30pm, shortly after the special Juma’at prayers offered in commemoration of Nigeria’s forthcoming 60th independence anniversary at Sultan Bello Juma’at Mosque.
”The Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal while magnanimously giving out gifts to the needy, a brief distribution which gave birth to an upsurge in would-be beneficiaries.
“However, in an unconventional effort to control the crowd after the departure of the governor the policeman fired the shot.”
The police spokesman added that victims of the incident were evacuated to Specialist Hospital Sokoto for treatment and autopsy.