Residents of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, were thrown into mourning last Friday following the killing of a 20-year-old 300-level student of the Niger Delta University,    Tariela Nikade by a trigger-happy policeman.
The killing caused outrage in Yenagoa as residents and landlords in Akenfa marched the streets and demanded justice for Tariela.
The protesters besieged the Akenfa Police Station, insisting that the policeman must be identified and prosecuted for the crime.
Some of the residents decried the attitude of the police, saying it didn’t match the conduct of the withdrawn state security outfit, Operation Doo-Akpor.
Nikade, the last child in the family of Anderson Nikade, a broadcaster, was reportedly shot dead close to their house at Tinacious Road, Edepie, Yenagoa.
Our correspondent learnt that following the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, the deceased who was an engineering student decided to learn a trade and subsequently began training at a barber’s shop close to his house.
Narrating how his brother was killed, Anderson said, “He was at a barber’s shop when suddenly at about 7pm, a team of policemen stormed the area. They entered into the shop and asked people to raise up their hands. My brother and others  complied but one of them shot my brother at the back of his neck.
“Immediately they noticed that they had shot him, they went into their van and zoomed off.”
Anderson added that his brother was immediately rushed to a private hospital in Yenagoa and was later moved to the Family Care Hospital where he was confirmed dead.
Reacting, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Asinim Butswat, identified the trigger-happy policeman as Sergeant Timadj Emmanuel.
He said, “The Bayelsa State Police Command condoles with the family and assures that justice will be done. The command regrets the unfortunate incident involving a police officer and a resident of Tenacious Road, Edepie, Yenagoa.’’