The Police in Taraba on Tuesday has assured justice for the family of the late Oliver Ezra killed by sergeant Haruna Idi of Mopol 40, at a checkpoint at Kpantinapu, Jalingo.
Oliver, the driver to the Lau Local Government Chairman, Rev. Daniel Zading was shot last Friday and died in the early hours of Tuesday at the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo.
Addressing journalists at the Police headquarters in Jalingo, Taraba the Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Sokoya assured that justice will be served in the matter.
According to him the investigation into the incident has since commenced and the sergeant involved in the incident will be charged to court if found culpable.
“We are deeply sorry over the unfortunate incident. Already the personnel involved has been arrested and investigation into the matter has commenced.
“We are going to be open to the public and the outcome of our investigation will be made public. We are in touch with the family and I want to assure the public that justice will be done in the matter,” he said.
Meanwhile, the family of late Oliver Ezra, have staged a peaceful protest in Jalingo, demanding justice for the victim.
Family members and friends of the late Oliver who marched to the Taraba State Government House in Jalingo, have called on the government to ensure that justice prevails.
The leader of the protesters and younger brother of the deceased Mr Polycarp Ezra told journalists in Jalingo that they were in Government House to register their grievance before the state government.
“We are here to register our grievance and to demand justice for Oliver. We want to call on the Governor to ensure that the policeman who killed our brother is arrested and prosecuted,” he said.
Responding, Special Adviser to Governor Darius Ishaku on Political Matters, Alhaji Abubakar Bawa told the protesters that the government was disappointed with the development and would ensure that justice prevails.
“The Governor is not happy with the development and as a man of justice, he will ensure that justice prevails,” Bawa said.
Also, some youth blocked the Jalingo-Yola road in protest over the killing, causing a heavy gridlock.
Our correspondent gathered that the late Oliver Ezra who rode in a Toyota Hilux van with the Council Chairman of Lau local government, Rev. Daniel Zading and the Orderly to the Chairman attempted to pass the checkpoint when the police at the checkpoint had given the right of way to a vehicle coming from the opposite direction.
The late Oliver who was furious at the development came down from his vehicle and demanded that the police order the other vehicle to reverse and give way for him to pass. The situation led to an argument between him and the policeman.
It was gathered that an altercation ensued between the driver and the policeman who had already cocked his rifle on seeing the speed at which the Chairman’s car drove to the checkpoint that night.
In the course of the alternation, the policeman touched the safety trigger button, leading to the shooting of the driver and a brush on the hand of the chairman’s orderly.
Efforts to get the Chairman, Rev. Daniel Zading to explain what happened on the said day failed as he did not pick his call or reply to a text message sent to his phone.
