Uproar, as cop kills boat driver in Warri

The brutal killing of Akpobolokaemi  Duke over his alleged refusal of extortion by a marine police officer on Warri river on October 1 is generating ripples in the oil-rich state.

It was gathered that the boat transporter, Mr. Akpobolokaemi Duke, who’s a native of Enekorogha Community in Burutu Local Government Area of the state was shot dead by a trigger-happy Nigeria Police officer in Warri river at the wee hours of Sunday, October 1st.

According to a source, the deceased was headed to Warri to ferry passengers back to the riverine communities when a cop from the Marine Police division, who were allegedly waiting to extort money, sighted him from afar.

The cop allegedly went after the boat driver shooting and killing the boat driver in the process.

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The Marine Police division refused reacting to the allegation when accosted by reporters while the state’s command’s spokesman, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, did not also respond to calls put across to his phone as of the time of filing the report on Wednesday.

But Nigerian Tribune reliably gathered that the Marine Police division actually has a squad in Warri river which carries out brazen extortion of money from boat transporters along Warri river.

Although it could not be ascertained if the deceased, Mr. Akpobolokaemi, was carrying contraband such as illegally refined petroleum products during the incident, other sources said he had no criminal record since he began the business of boat transportation.

Meanwhile, angered by the alleged extra-judicial killing, the Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-corruption Crusade (FHRACC)  and the Ijaw People’s Development Initiative (IPDI) have condemned the killing, calling on the Inspector General Police to investigate and bring the killer cop to book.

National President of FHRACC, Alaowei Cleric and IPDI, Mayor Timi Ogobiri in separate statements made available to journalists in Warri on Wednesday expressed anger at the callous murder.

“We do not know why they chose to murder him in cold blood…Even the boat he was driving before his gruesome murder did not carry any suspicious object.

“The unprovoked killing of a law-abiding citizen by the police is unlawful and such act must not go unpunished.

“The perpetrators of this brutal murder of Akpobolokaemi Duke must be brought to book.

“We are calling on the Commissioner of Police, Delta State to immediately investigate the incident and punish the culprits appropriately.

“Let the Police build public confidence by checkmating incidences of extra-judicial killings,” Cleric enthused.

The duo further called on the IGP to extend the proscription of mounting of roadblocks by police in rivers and creeks of the Niger Delta.