The Plateau State Police Command has arrested and detained a police officer who allegedly shot an unarmed trader in the leg at a checkpoint in Riyom Local Government Area of the state.
The incident occurred on August 11 when the trader, identified as Danladi, who moves goods with his van, was stopped at a checkpoint while conveying vegetables to the Southeast.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of the Plateau State Police Command, Superintendent Alfred Alabo, confirmed that the officer involved had been disarmed and taken into custody.
Alabo said the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of the Riyom Division, immediately mobilised to the scene after receiving information about the incident, disarmed the officer and took him to the State Criminal Investigation Department, CID.
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He said the officer was currently undergoing questioning and a disciplinary process over the incident.
“The DPO, Riyom Division, came there immediately.
He got the information with his men, disarmed the officer and also took him immediately to the State CID, where he is currently undergoing questioning and a disciplinary process,” Alabo said.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police has also directed the DPO to visit the hospital where the victim is receiving treatment and provide feedback on his condition.
“Concerning the victim, the CP has directed the DPO to go to the hospital and see how the victim is faring and give us feedback. A lot is ongoing concerning that,” he said.
The PPRO stressed that the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting was ongoing, assuring the public that the command would provide updates as the process progresses.
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“The officer is with us; he is in custody at the State CID. Investigations are ongoing,” he said.
Alabo, however, appealed to members of the public to avoid confrontations with armed security personnel whenever disagreements occur, urging them to use established complaint channels to report alleged misconduct.
He particularly appealed to motorists and other road users to remain calm when stopped at checkpoints and report any alleged misconduct by security personnel through the appropriate authorities.
“When an officer misbehaves on the road, don’t try to attack or confront them while they are armed with a rifle. Please, make use of our numbers,” he said.
He explained that the police had established mechanisms through which members of the public could report misconduct by officers, including the Police Public Relations Office, the Police Complaint Response Unit and other designated complaint channels.
“If you feel that any officer has gone against or attacked your fundamental human right in any way, report it to the appropriate authority.
“If you don’t even know how to go about it, just call the phone number of the PPRO and report, and I can assure you we will do something about it,” Alaba said.
The PPRO urged members of the public not to allow anger to result in physical confrontation with armed security personnel, saying such actions could further escalate an already tense situation.
He said both sides of the incident were being investigated, noting that while the command was aware of the allegation against the police officer, the officer also had his own account of what transpired.
According to him, the command would establish the facts of the matter through its investigation.
Alabo further disclosed that the officers involved in the incident were not originally from the Plateau State Police Command but were in the state to perform certain duties under the supervision of the Commissioner of Police.
He assured the public that appropriate disciplinary action was already being taken against the officer.
“Concerning that investigation, it is still ongoing. The officer’s disciplinary measures are being taken already, and we want to assure the general public that this will not happen again,” he said.
The command appealed to members of the public to remain calm, assuring them that the matter was being handled and that the public would be updated as the investigation progresses.
