A police inspector, Jonathan Okouromi, has reportedly shot dead one Sergeant Abosele Akhere, both of the Edo State Police Command.
A report said that the incident occurred about 9pm on Sunday, at Ikponwosa/Egban community in Egor Local Government Area.
Operatives of the Edo State Police Anti-Kidnapping Squad and those of the Control Intelligence Rapid Response Squad had embarked on an operation to apprehend some suspected cultists.
Reports said that suspected cultists had been terrorising Ikponwosa/Egban community in recent times.
In the course of the operation, a notorious cultist and prime suspect in cult-related activities, who was simply identified as ‘Raggae’ was arrested by Sergeant Abosele Akhere.
“All of a sudden, Inspector Jonathan Okouromi just lifted his gun, pulled the trigger and shot Akhere from the back. Nobody knew what happened or why he did that. He just fired him from behind. The man fell immediately and started bleeding,” reports quoted a source.
According to the source, who preferred not to be mentioned, the shot officer was rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, where he was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.
The said Inspector Okouromi was reported to have “escaped with his gun the moment he realised that he had killed his junior colleague.”
Also, the suspected cultist, Reggae, also escaped, while one Mr. Agbontaen Monday, a member of the Eiye confraternity was arrested.
The fleeing Inspector Okouromi is still being wanted by the police in Ugbowo division, while the body of the slain sergeant was deposited at the mortuary as the further investigation continues, it was learnt.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Edo State, Chidi Nwabuzor, said he was on holiday.
“I am on holiday. When I get to the office tomorrow, I’ll get the details,” he reportedly said in a telephone conversation.
A similar incident occurred in Rivers State last week when one Inspector Nelson Abuante committed suicide after he mistakenly shot dead his colleague, one Inspector Monday Gbaramana, during an attempt to arrest a suspect.
* Media Report