Two policemen attached to the Rivers State Police Command were over the weekend beaten to death in Ikpeshi, a community in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state because their convoy allegedly hit a motorcycle resulting in the death of the rider and the passengers.
It was gathered on Sunday that the policemen were in a Hilux as escorts to a former member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Agbaje, when the convoy ran into the motor bike.
The Point learnt that irate youths were said to have invaded the Edo State Security Volunteer Network (vigilante) office where the policemen were taken to for protective custody, allegedly overran the facility and beat two of them to death while members of the vigilante group were able to rescue the two others who were said to be receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.
It was gathered that the rifles of the police officers were also recovered.
The angry youths were said to have attacked the vigilante office and destroyed its furniture while threatening to deal with their members who tried to rescue the police officers.
A police source said that the affected officers were from Police Mobile Force 19, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The source said, “One Toyota Hilux van conveying four policemen namely Inspector Brownson Brown, Inspector Abubaka Fakkuk, Sergeant Taiye Ojiefo and Sergeant Elisha John, attached to Police Mobile Force 19, Port Harcourt on escort duty with Emmanuel Agbaje, former Edo State House Assembly member, was involved in an accident with a motorcycle conveying a woman and child by Ikpeshi community. In the process, the rider and passengers died on the spot and in reaction, a mob attacked the policemen, beat Abubakar Fakku and Elisha John to death while two others are receiving treatment at Ifejola Hospital Igarra.”
The Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident on Sunday but said details would be made available to the public in due course.
But when reacting to the incident, the chairman, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Tajudeen Alade, condemned the dastardly act by the youths and commended the efforts of the vigilante to save the lives of the policemen.
He said those involved would be brought to book and promised support for the twin sister of one of the passengers of the motorcycle.
