Rivers
Police Shooting Victim Cries For Help
A middle -aged man, Mr.
Boniface Okere, who was shot alongside with a commercial bus driver by a trigger happy police officer in Port Harcourt recently, has raised alarm over his state of health and his abandonment by the police.
Okere, who hails from Imo State, and deals on clothes and sandals, narrated his ordeal to The Tide, describing his experience as a “close shave with death”.
According to the victim, he boarded a mile three bound bus from Total Filling Station, near Kala Police Station, that fateful morning, but the bus was accosted by an armed police officer who shot into the vehicle following a disagreement with the driver.
Mr. Okere ,who sat near the driver at the front seat, said he saw himself in the pool of his blood, slipped into unconsciousness, but later regained his consciousness at Sonebel Hospital were sympathizers rushed him for treatment.
Mr. Okere said he later learnt of the death of the bus driver with shock, when he was taken to Kala Police Station to lodge his complaints.
The victim who was later referred to Braithwaith Memorial Specialist Hospital for further treatment, said he had undergone medical surgery on his personal expense, and he had exhausted his meagre savings. He lamented that his business has suffered greatly while his family was passing through difficult times, adding that in spite of all these, the police was yet to show any form of concern.
A medical report signed by Dr. Iwumo Maduabuchi of Sonebel Hospital, states that the x-ray done on the victim confirmed he had bullets in his soft tissue.
Another medical report, signed by Dr. Emmanuel E.O. of Braithwaith Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMsH) corroborated the report from Sonabel Hospital, stating that the victim was bleeding from the gun-shot wound when he was brought in for treatment.
Speaking on the matter, the lawyer to the victim, Bar. Thaddens N. Nwanneri, described the incident as unfortunate, and wondered why those saddled with the responsibilities of protecting lives do not ascribe values to the sanctity of life.
Bar. Nwanneri, said he had petitioned the Rivers State Commissioner of Police in a letter dated 18th August, 2015, but no response had been received from the police authorities.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Mohammad (DSP) said the case had not got to the attention of thepolice.
Taneh Beemene
The Rivers State Judiciary has denied a media report claiming that Justice Frank Onyiri of the State High Court issued an injunction order restraining the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), from inaugurating the newly appointed members of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission (RSCSC).
In a statement issued by the Deputy Chief Registrar in charge of litigation at the High Court, Menenen Poromon (Esq), the state Judiciary disassociated itself from the report, describing it as malicious and fabricated.
The statement emphasized that the report was a falsehood and a misrepresentation of what transpeared in the court.
Poromon clarified that no such order was issued by Justice Onyiri or any other judge of the High Court of the state and urged the public to disregard the information, as it lacked any iota of truth.
The statement however advised the public to verify any information concerning the state Judiciary directly from the office of the Chief Registrar, High Court of the State, to avoid spreading of misinformation.