How police officer killed female motorist in Abuja
Aplain clothed police officer has shot and killed a 31-year-old staff of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Anita Akapson, a family source told Daily Trust yesterday.
It was learnt that the incident happened at about 10 pm on Saturday, October 13, 2018, around Katampe new extension, Abuja, after Akapson had left an estate where she visited a friend.
The police officer, who came with three other persons - two men and a woman - stopped Akapson.
“The police officer first shot into the air, before shooting at Akapson who was seated in the driver’s seat of a Honda Civic car,” the source said.
The shooting was said to have attracted a crowd that accosted the gunman, who was later found to be a policeman. He was forced to call his colleagues who took Akapson to the hospital where she died.
Anita Akapson was described as a gentle soul by her grieving aunt Senator Nenadi Usman.
Usman, who spoke to Daily Trust while receiving condolences at her Abuja residence yesterday, demanded that the perpetrator be brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.
She said the police cannot continue to kill innocent people, even as she recalled that recently a female youth corps member was killed in Abuja by a policeman.
A senior police officer who spoke to Daily Trust on condition of anonymity said the officer involved was instantly taken into custody and would face disciplinary action.
The officer added that policemen were at the location in response to a distress call. “The police team on operation in Katampe that night arrested two suspects and recovered a stolen vehicle in response to the distress call.
“A third suspect evaded arrest and in the course of trying to apprehend him, Akapson approached in her car,” the source said, adding that it was an operational mishap as the police made frantic effort to save Akapson’s life.
He said the policeman, who shot and killed an NYSC corps member, was investigated, dismissed and is currently being prosecuted.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris has ordered the detention and investigation of the policemen involved in the incident.
Police spokesman DCP Jimoh Moshood said in a statement yesterday that the IGP commiserated with the family of the deceased and assured them that justice would be done in the matter.
He said the IGP directed the FCT Commissioner of Police to immediately detain and personally carry out a thorough investigation of the policemen involved in the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The commissioner, who is already in touch with the family as directed by the IGP, said the outcome of investigations into the incident would be made public.