THE Benue State Police Command has detained one of its officers, James Aondona, a Sergeant, for allegedly killing a truck driver identified as Aondohumba Terkula.
Spokesperson for the Benue Police Command Catherine Anene disclosed this to The ICIR on Tuesday.
Anene said preliminary investigation revealed that on Sunday, the officer was posted to an observation point at Ngibo, Katsina-Ala, where he was involved in an altercation with the deceased.
“He (Aondona) decided to engage in an altercation with Mr. Aondohumba Terkula (the deceased) which led to the loss of life. The corpse has been deposited at General Hospital, Kastina-Ala,” the Benue police spokesperson said.
She noted that Benue State Commissioner of Police Wale Abass, who commiserated with the family of the deceased, condemned the ‘unprofessional conduct’ of the officer and had ordered further investigation into the matter.
Anene disclosed that the commissioner of police also gave assurance that justice will be served in the case, adding that a disciplinary procedure has commenced for onward prosecution.
The ICIR learnt that the altercation between the police officer and the deceased ensued when the latter was asked to pay an illegal fee of N3000, but he provided N1500, stating that he did not have a full truck and could not pay the requested amount.
Some aggrieved trailer drivers on Monday also blocked the Anyiin road in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State over the killing of a colleague by a policeman.
Lukman Abolade is an Investigative reporter with The ICIR. Reach out to him via [email protected], on twitter @AboladeLAA and FB @Correction94
