Policeman Shoots Abuja Resident Over Beer

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A policeman in uniform yesterday in Abuja shot a man in the leg after an argument on who should pay for a bottle of beer.

 

The incident occurred at a beer parlour, popularly called ‘Yori-Yori shop’ located on the Ebitu Ukiwe Street, Jabi District around 2pm. Witnesses said the policeman was under the influence of alcohol before he fired his gun.

Patience Patrick who serves as a salesgirl in a nearby shop narrated the incident thus “The Policeman came to Yori-Yori shop around 2pm and ordered for a bottle of beer. He was offered a chair and he sat down holding a gun. He drank the beer and stood up with the intention of leaving the shop. The lady that sold him beer then asked for her money, which is N250, and the policeman refused to pay and told the girl to keep quiet.

“The lady started crying and begged the policeman to pay the money but the officer ignored her and got out of the shop. She followed him outside, crying and while she was pleading with him to pay the money one man intervened and urged the policeman to pay for the beer he took. He even told the police that his failure to pay the lady would tarnish the image of the Police force that he represents 

 

The policeman who looked drunk was angered at that point and he slapped the man in the face and threatened to open fire on anybody that talked to him again. The good Samaritan was dazed   with the way the policeman slapped him and  demanded to know why.

 

Both men started arguing and in the argument that ensued, the  policeman engaged his gun and shot the man in the leg.”

The witness continued her narration that  "The Police Man after shooting the good Samaritan, moved  away from the scene, but before he could go far “people mostly attracted by the sound of the gunshot gathered and mobbed the policeman. He was severely beaten by the crowd that he slumped and went into coma.

 

A police patrol team later came and picked him up in their van.”
She said the sales girls who sold the police man the Beer was taken away by the police and another group of policemen later came back to the shop and took the Owner of the Shop away. “That is why the door of the beer parlor  is locked.”

When contacted, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Utako Division, Mr Usman K. Umar, a Chief Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident.

Also,the Police Public Relations Officer Altine Daniel,  also confirmed the incident, saying the police officer involved is Sergeant Oludare Ariyo of the Special Police Unit Base 7, who was posted to RCC Construction Company, Utako, Abuja

 

The PPRO said, “He left his beat and went to Kpana Village for a drink, but ended up shooting one Joseph Martins, alias Mr Big, over a small altercation. As a result members of the public descended on the policeman and took away his Gun. A quick intervention by the police led to the recovery of the weapon, but with its magazine. Also, the police rescued the officer from the mob.”

The Police spokeswoman said further that the victim sustained fracture on the leg and had been admitted at the General Hospital, Wuse, Abuja. She added that, “the officer will be dealt with according to the law, even though he is not of the FCT Police Command. The victim is in the FCT, so the FCT Police Command will take it up. First, he left his job to a drinking spot. Secondly, he shot a civilian. These are two serious offences and infraction of the law.”

She appealed to FCT residents to go about their normal businesses as the police would do everything possible to ensure that such incident does not repeat itself in the nearest  future.