A volunteer traffic warden identified as Chukwuka Monye at Rumuokoro Junction was shot dead while controlling traffic in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The incident happened at about 6 pm on Saturday evening when the deceased was said to be controlling traffic in Rumuokoro, an outskirt of Port Harcourt.
He was said to be assisting in clearing the gridlock caused by a downpour when one of the gunmen in police uniform inside a vehicle shot him.
According to reports, a source who did not want his name in print for security reasons said the deceased had an issue with some security personnel, but could not give a proper identity of the people.
“What I heard was that Chukwuka was arguing with some security people, but I don’t know if they are policemen or not.
“He is a very quiet person and very intelligent. He is a First Class graduate, 43 years old now. It is very unfortunate what happened to him”, he stated.
It was learnt that the corpse was later retrieved from the scene by policemen and deposited at a morgue in Port Harcourt.
The deceased’s father, John Monye, who is a retired warrant officer, told newsmen on the phone that he was at home when someone used his late son’s telephone number to call him to inform him of the development.
He called for a proper investigation to unravel those behind his son’s death.
He said: “I was in the house when somebody who said he is my son’s friend used his (Chukwuka) number to call me.
“That caller said Chukwuka’s corpse was lying on the ground, that they shot him.
“He said the police shot him, according to what they told him”.
Asked if his son was a cultist or had a problem with anyone, he said, “My son is a quiet boy. He doesn’t make trouble with anybody. Throughout his schooling days, he never had a problem with anybody.
“He is married with three children, a daughter and two sons. My son cannot die like that.
“I want the government to investigate this matter and find out what happened that led to him being shot.”
The State Police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the incident, said the act was perpetrated by gunmen in police uniform.
While noting that the investigation was ongoing, she said, “It happened around 6pm on April 1. The man was controlling traffic. I think he has issues with those people because they are not police officers, but gunmen wearing police uniforms were the ones that shot him.
“Immediately it happened, the Divisional Police Officer swung into action and his corpse was taken to a morgue”.
