Gunshots at Imo Govt House as workers run for safety
Written by Chidi Nkwopara
Tuesday, 17 February 2009

Owerri—Staff of Government House, Owerri, Imo State scampered for safety at the weekend, following what most of the workers called “a volley of gunshots released by some of the policemen on duty”.
Although information from the Government House was a bit hazy at press time, but two versions of what happened, however, attributed the shooting to a drunken policeman, while another account said the policemen were protesting unpaid allowances.

One of the workers, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, claimed that “the policemen were angrily protesting their unpaid allowances, which is about N4,000 per week per, per person”.

According to the source, “it was not too clear why the allowances of the policemen posted to the Government House, Owerri, remained unpaid before they decided to stampede everybody”.

The source said “the policemen, who confided in some staff, blamed their woes on the Chief of Staff, Sir Emma Ohakim”.

“We scampered for safety as soon as the firing started, especially as we were not too sure what led to the shooting. Besides, nobody wanted to be hit by bullets”, he added.

The second account, according to a source said “the policeman in question was drunk”, adding that “people could smell alcohol from his mouth when he spoke”. According to the source, the policeman shut the Government House gate and ordered the workers to leave the vicinity or risk being shot.

When the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO, Mr. Linus Nwaiwu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), was contacted on phone, he claimed ignorance of the shooting, but promised to get back to our reporter.

“I will get back to you as soon as I get details. For now, the Commissioner of Police has invited the Operations Officer to brief him on what happened at Government House. If you exercise a little patience, I will get back to you”, the PPRO said.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/28907/45/

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