Soldiers sack Police station, arrest DPO over murder of colleague In Rivers

Soldiers, attached to 6 Division, yesterday, broke into Ada George Police Station, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and freed suspected criminals. The incident reportedly followed the killing of a soldier by a police officer at a checkpoint. The incident, Our reporter learnt, caused tension among residents and passersby. Police Commissioner Zaki Ahmed confirmed the death of the soldier. He described it as unfortunate, but debunked the allegation the military invaded the police station. However, a police source maintained that soldiers invaded the station and beat up policemen and civilians. He said: ”The soldiers first came and took the body of their colleague away. They returned later, opened the cells, freed suspects and beat up our men and civilians.” The source said the soldier was mistakenly killed because policemen at the checkpoint thought he was a criminal, as he was in mufti, armed and violent. The 6 Division spokesman Col Aminu Iliyasu said: “A statement by the Army and Police will be issued soon. It was an unfortunate incident. It is not true that soldiers chased away the policemen.”]]>