June 27, (THEWILL) – The Benue State Police Command has arrested Sergeant James Aondona over a case of culpable homicide in Kastina-Ala Local Government Area, even as irate youths and petrol tanker drivers blocked the highway in protest against the shooting.
The command’s statement, signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sewuese Anene, on Monday, said preliminary investigation showed that on June 26, 2022 at about 12.30 pm Sgt. Aondona was properly briefed on his schedule of duty and posted to an observation point at Ngibo in Kastina-Ala Local Government Area.
The statement read in part,”He decided to engage in an altercation with Mr. Aondohemba Terkula (the deceased), which led to loss of life. The corpse has been deposited at General Hospital, Kastina-Ala”.
“While commiserating with the family of the deceased, the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Wale Abass, has condemned the unprofessional conduct of the officer involved and ordered that further investigation be carried out”.
The statement quotes the Police Commissioner as assuring the people of the state that justice will be served as disciplinary procedure has commenced for onward prosecution.
Investigation revealed that Aondona was alleged to have abandoned his duty post and mounted an illegal road block where he was extorting money from motorists.
It was gathered that trouble started when Aondana engaged a truck driver in an argument over N3,000 toll fee on that fateful.
The trailer driver was said to been stopped by the operatives who mounted a road block and was asked to pay N3,000, but the driver offered N1,500, arguing that he did not load a full truck.
An eye witness account had it that argument ensued over the driver’s refusal to comply with the levy, which resulted in a scuffle that eventually led to the shooting and murder of the driver.
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