A combined team of Nigeria Police Force, Imo Command and task force on the ban of Okada in Owerri Municipality, Thursday, at the Nekede Mechanic Village threw caution to the wind by shooting and throwing tear gas at a mob trying to stop them from removing a motor bike impounded in the area.
Trouble started when the police team operating in the area at about mid-day swooped on a motorcyclist and gave him a beating of his life to the point of shattering his left eyebrows with the butt of their gun. It was the level of injury meted on the man, that attracted the Chairman, Nekede mechanic village, Chief Charles Emezuem whose office was close-by.
Our reporter who was also close-by further reported that the plea for leniency on behalf of the bike man by the chairman fell on deaf ears as the police threw tear gas directly at the chairman and threatened to shoot him.
The move by the mechanics drew the irk of the police who resorted to use of their gun and tear gas to avoid being lynched. The ceaseless shooting of the police led to the shattering of the ankle of a 13year old primary four boy, Master Chidindu Irekama and the breaking of the windscreen of a car parked in the premises of Chibyke Filling Station on Aba road off mechanic village.
In a chat with newsmen after the incident, the Chairman of Mechanic Village Association, Chief Charles Emezuem frowned at the level of abuse of the fundamental human rights of Imolites by the police and the so called taskforces operating in the state.
He then called on both Imo State government and the police to desist from such abuses to avoid anarchy and mayhem in the nearest future.
He queried reason for police to shoot both life bullets, rubber-bullets at unarmed civilians and called for caution in the discharge of government business.
