binatrix:

guys, mistakes happen but when u are a trained professional, i can assure u mistakes would be at the barest minimum level. in the case of the nigerian police, their mistakes have been TOO much. u don't just shoot a guy because he brought out a pistol, u try to disarm him (i believe they go for trainings on man-to-man combat) or u shoot him somewhere like his leg or arm. killing him should be a last action where u hav no other optiion available to u. the story has many versions but knowing nigerian police well, whether he had identified himself or not, they would hav done their job (to kill him). its in nigeriia that police men shoot Army officers. lets open our eyes and see that this incident has confirmed that the nigerian police has lost it.

its so sad that victor is not alive today to tell us whether he pulled a gun out or not. like a police man once told me, a dead man cannot make a case.

thanks and God bless Nigeria.

@ Binatrix
First, I'll let you know that the Nigeria police has no good reputation. I spent 2 weeks in Naija and I had 6 different encounters with the police and I did nothing wrong. During those 6 encounters, I obeyed what they said everytime. It's only in Nigeria that the police shot for the sake of it and I wasn't ready to mess around with them. One of the encounters, I got stopped in front of a bank because apparently it was wrong for me to turn in front of the bank. I was like ok, I'll play along. Them think say them don find mumu we just enter country wey them fit mishandle. I no talk, I obey them and after all them shakara with weapon, I pulled out my ID to let them know who I was. The next thing I knew they were begging me to leave. I looked at them and I thought what a bunch of inferior people. I wrote that just to let you know that I'm not on anybodies side on this.

However, like I stated earlier, if you're one on one with a person that has a weapon, you don't try to shot them in the leg or even in the arm because they could still shot you back. You don't try to disarm someone that is trying to arm you with a weapon. Man to man combat is only effective for non projectile weapons.

But with this situation as I have read; it is not warranted. They had enough fighting power to disarm the guy without killing him. Only God knows exactly what happened sha because I'm sure there would be several versions of the incident. Let's just pray that God help us in our great country!

AN account of how a security detail attached to Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Victor Okonkwo, was allegedly killed by policemen at the weekend emerged yesterday from a man who claimed to have witnessed the incident.

The name of the witness, according to the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation, is being withheld for security reasons.

The witness and one other person were said to have been in the same car with the deceased.

The name of the policeman who allegedly pulled the trigger that killed the Vice President's security official was simply given as Akpama, a police driver.

The Atiku Campaign Organisation, in a statement yesterday, said: "An eyewitness, (name withheld for security reason) has shed light on the circumstances in which Mr. Victor Okonkwo, body guard to Vice-President Atiku Abubakar was killed by some policemen in Uke, near Keffi, Nasarawa State on Saturday."

It added: "The eye witness to the tragedy, friend and co-traveller with Okonkwo in the ill-fated trip, has confirmed that the deceased was killed at the Uke police post by a trigger-happy police constable."

The statement disclosed that the witness completed his undergraduate study in Mathematics from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, four days to the incident.

The witness said the shot that killed Okonkwo "was fired by the driver of the police patrol team, whose colleagues immediately lamented (had) never handled a gun."

The organisation said: "Victor was a close friend of my younger brother. They were mates at the State Security Service training school in Kaduna. But we became family friends. At present, my younger brother who is serving in Anambra State lives with the parents of Victor. Victor was always in our family house in Abuja; and of late has been the one taking care of our mother who is sick."

The witness was quoted further: "He asked me to follow him to Nasarawa Polytechnic where he was to write a paper in Accounting. He was studying for his Ordinary National Diploma in Business Administration. We were three on the trip and we had a smooth ride until we were stopped by a highway police patrol."

The eyewitness was reported to have said that the policemen walked up to the trio and asked for the vehicle's papers.

Victor responded by saying "espirit de corp. He introduced himself as an SSS operative who worked with the Vice-President.

He added: "The policeman then exchanged banters with him and saying something like 'Oga, na you dey enjoy o.' They asked us to go."

The witness continued: "As Victor was about to move, the policemen came back and said their Inspector wanted to see Victor. He came down from the car and walked up to the Inspector in the Patrol Jeep.

"The next thing was that the Inspector came down from the front passenger seat of the patrol vehicle and started complaining. He was saying something like: 'You boys think every policeman on the road is an ordinary man'.

"When the Inspector rebuffed our pleadings that Victor and his colleague would be late for their exam, Victor persuaded his colleague in the car who was going for the same exam, to leave while he sorted himself out. Then, the Inspector said we should go to the next police station."

He was quoted further: "As we drove towards Keffi, one of the policemen who had taken over our front passenger seat asked for the particulars of the paper. Victor asked him to pick it in the dashboard safe and he did.

"At the police post in Uke, Karshi local council of Nasarawa State, we stopped and the Inspector directed his men to search the Toyota Carina 2 vehicle that we were travelling in. After the search in which nothing was found, the Inspector asked that the vehicle be impounded.

"At this point, Victor started pleading that he would be late for his examination and that the Inspector should please allow him to go. The Inspector refused and ordered his men to register the car in the station register. Victor handed the key of the car to him. As we made to leave the station, the Inspector again called us back and asked Victor where he said he was working. Victor brought out his wallet comprising four identity cards, that of the SSS, the Presidential Villa, his National ID card and his bank account ID card. The officer called one his men to identify the Villa ID card and that one said "Oga na true o, the ID look like original''.

"All this while, Victor was calling his colleagues in the Villa but could not get through. Then the man said he would not release him until the people he had been calling came to identify him. He said Victor should be locked up.

"Victor said he could not be locked up because he worked for a security agency like the Inspector.

"Five policemen surrounded him and tried to force him into the station. He resisted and they were struggling with him but they could not overpower him.

"As they struggled, his service pistol fell and the policemen tried to pick it up. They struggled, but he was able to pick it before any of them. They continued to struggle with him. Then, one of them named Akpama, dashed to the Patrol vehicle, grabbed a rifle, and shot into the air once. I was scared and I ran to the Inspector pleading that he should intervene, but he was busy smoking cigarette.

As I was pleading with him, I heard another shot. I looked back and saw Victor going down. I rushed to him and tried to hold him. One old man and a girl from the village joined me to attend to him''.

"I rushed to the roadside to get a vehicle to convey him for medical attention. A Datsun car agreed to help us. As we drove into the station, a policeman ordered the driver to stop and he was taken away.

"It was when the DPO who said he was attracted by the gun shots came that he ordered that Victor should be taken for medical attention. He was taken to the back of the Jeep and I held him, praying that he would survive the gun wound.

"As we drove to Keffi, the policemen started accusing each other for the gun shot. The Inspector took his gun and checked his bullets. The other policemen accused Akpama, the patrol van driver of firing the shot. They said he was always running away from guns. They kept saying that the first time he handled a gun, he had killed someone.

"When we got to the medical centre in Keffi, the medical doctor examined Victor and left without saying a word. When the DPO went into the doctor's office, I followed him and pleaded that the doctor should come and take care of Victor. He then confirmed that Victor was dead."

The eyewitness disclosed that he had made statement to the Police Authorities giving this same account.

"At the police station, the policemen wept, asking what would happen to them after many years in service. They kept blaming each other for the killing," the witness added.

From today's Guardian.

At least we now know that it wasn't politically motivated. . .

@Odeku
I appreciate the point you're trying to make about what an ideal police force should be. Unfortunately, the situation in Nigeria is not so. Let me share a personal experience with you.

HOW I WAS SLAPPED BY A POLICE OFFICER IN THE PRESENCE OF MANY WITNESSES
I entered a cab on my way to office last year. The cab picked me before a T-junction. We did not know that a female police officer was watching from afar. When we got to the junction, the cop asked the driver to stop the car because he has committed an offense by picking a passenger (me) along the road.
The taxi man thinking the lady was joking, told her "ha, sister, na me o. You know know me again". To cut the long story short. More policemen came to join the female cop and then ordered all the passenger in the vehicle to come down.

I was seating in the passenger seat beside the driver. I pleaded with the cops that they should forgive the cab man as it is too early in the morning to take the man to their station (I pleaded even though I didn't believe that the man has done anything wrong. I said it was too early in the morning because I knew that all they were after is just to extort money from the man).
Unfortunately, they refused and insisted that the poor cab man must follow them to the station. For a brief moment, I forgot that I was in Nigeria. I wanted to be my brother (the cab man) keeper. I told the young policeman that opened the front door for me to go down that I will not (what foolishness).
Before I understand what was happening, about four of them entered the cab. One forced himself into the passenger seat beside me and told me clearly, that I will no longer be permitted to go down from the cab. I thought I was in a civilised city (I guess too much American/European movies has made me forgotten that the Nigerian Police man is an emperor that can not be query). I told the cop that since I have committed no offense, he has no basis to arrest me (I thought I was in a civilised society where every citizen has rights) and take me to their station. That was a big mistake that I made. The cop, who obviously is younger than myself, gave me a dirty slap in the presence of his colleagues and unlookers. He started shouting on top of his voice that he will deal with me so that I will learn not to meddle in other people's problem. (Remember, I was only trying to plead for the poor taxi man, I didn't know that it was a big offense).

It was a sad event. I was fortunate that their inspector was not too far away. He came around and asked questions. I thought I was dreaming, when the young police officer (in front of his colleagues) lied to him that I was hindering them from carrying out their legitimate duty.   None the less, I narrated my ordeal to the inspector, hoping that as an elderly man (from his look I guess he was more educated than the junior officers) he will call his boys to order and apologise to me. Instead, he simply told me to go away, and order that the cab man should be arrested and taken to the station.
You can guess the rest of the story. I quickly left the place before more harm will be done to me.

Some weeks after, I followed a colleague to the policestation that is not too far from the spot of the accident. The same policeman that slapped me greeted my colleague and I "Good morning Sirs". Obviously, the cop has forgotten that I was the same man he slapped and manhandled.

My advice to all Nairalander is that whenever they come into contact with Nigerian Police, they should forget all the beautiful statements and promises that the IG makes through the news media. Please, play the fool so that you can remain alive to tell the story. Do not try to prove any point. Too many lives have been wasted just because of 20naira.

scribe I understand your ordeal, but the question I have for you, did you file a complaint with the commissioner of police/ the DPO? or the force headquarters? we cant just assume nothing will be done in this cases, but one person has to file a complaint and with routine complaint on the same office, someone will eventually get the picture.

Scribe, incase of next time, look at the most senior officer's badge and call him by name. Used to work for me. . .

chxta, thanks for the post on Victor's death.

Now people are not saying a word, but when I said it yesterday this was an accident, people said OBJ order the killing, Nigerians self no wonder we are so diverse.

Because of the way Nigeria is and the kinda police we have, 90% of judgement will be that the killin was ordered. An accident by an untrained useless police driver? Hmmm!

[color=#000099][/color] It was found that the state of insecurity in nairaland is becoming borring! what should an ordinary citizen have to say about it? "When the 2 ELEPHANTS fight, only the GRASS would suffer ". Take note of that and always pray for our MOTHERLAND, NAIRALAND!

Radiant:

chxta, thanks for the post on Victor's death.

No problem. just doing my bit so people know the truth. . .

This unfortunate incident could have been prevented if he comply with the police. Even if the police man is wrong, you can go to his superior afterwards for disciplinary action, that is why there is provost mashall in every force.

well it best know to God. Because his God alone that knowest all things. So I believe the disputes between the two of them is best know to God alone.

thanks.

FLEX06:

This unfortunate incident could have been prevented if he comply with the police. Even if the police man is wrong, you can go to his superior afterwards for disciplinary action, that is why there is provost mashall in every force.

Hi
reading from the eye witness report, he (they) complied with the policemen, didnt they?

_{I still don't get how a[b] SECURITY ATTACHE[/b] to the VICE PRESIDENT of a country can be an accounting student.}

LoverBwoy:

Hi
reading from the eye witness report, he (they) complied with the policemen, didnt they?

_{I still don't get how a[b] SECURITY ATTACHE} to the VICE PRESIDENT of a country can be an accounting student.[/b]

how do you explain this one "okonjo-iweala, financial analyst as minister for foreign affairs"
the problem is in the roots

lol
i understand what you are sayin @ otolorin

it's just amazing that in a country where we _"allegedly" have more graduates than the whole of africa put together, we still live with some absurd policies

yes o
and thats because "money talks - bullsh*t works" in here
bu b'liv me - it cant continue for long!

Obviously they didn't comply or it wouldn't result to the police trying to subdue him and someone picked a gun up. fishy

The story is a bit confusing though.
Why did the inspector ask them to stop after his boys had asked them to go?
Why did he have to order them to impound the car since they didn't find a fault?

"As we made to leave the station, the Inspector again called us back and asked Victor where he said he was working. Victor brought out his wallet comprising four identity cards, that of the SSS, the Presidential Villa, his National ID card and his bank account ID card. The officer called one his men to identify the Villa ID card and that one said "Oga na true o, the ID look like original''.
Why did they have to lock him up after checking his ID and seeing it was original?
I mean the story is a bit funny

I leave the rest for GOD to judge.

Besides, I think he finished from the state security service training school in Kaduna and just decided to get another diploma in Business administration for those of you who worry about that

FLEX or ODEKU and others: Be very careful with your comments. This man is dead, regardless of what happened that horrible day, one should be prudent passing judgment.

Remember that this could happen to any of us, hence while we show respect for the dead man and the family he left behind, we should also focus our attention on how this disastrous event could be prevented.

May God bless Nigeria.

so because the man is dead we shouldn't get to the root of the issue? what if the people that shot him were been threaten? what if it was self defense? and again we have to wait for the full investigation before we can make judgment

I think Victor made a mistake by telling them he works in the presidency n serving Atiku for that matter. They (police) believe he is rich n didnt know how to ask him for money.

No way man, they wont kill you for that
this is accident

hmm, i wonder what's going to happen to the guy that shot him.

If its deliberate he will be hang, but if it was an accident, probably reprimanded and dismiss from the force, trust me there is a part responsible call provost mashall.

FLEX06:

trust me there is a part responsible call provost mashall.

yea, dere is one, a "figure-head" tho'

hmmmmmmmmmm, God dey 4 naija!!

THIS IS NIGERIA WHERE IT IS OBVIOUS THE POLICEMAN HAS NO BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT POLICING IS ALL ABOUT.
HOW MANY POLICEMEN KNOW THE STANDARD PROCEDURE FOR APPREHENDING SOMEONE DANGEROUS?
EVERY NOW AND THEN POLICE KILL MOTORCYLISTS AND INNOCENT PEOPLE AND YET NOTHING IS DONE.
INFACT AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, THERE ARE NO POLICE FORCES IN THE COUNTRY. WE JUST HAVE MEN DRESSED IN BLACK WITH GUNS GIVEN TO THEM TO CAUSE HAVOC TO THE SOCIETY.