A 22-year-old tricycle rider, Samuel Agu, has died after he was allegedly chased into the path of an oncoming bus by a policeman demanding N100 bribe.
According to reports, the policeman identified simply as Sergeant Magaji from the Bridge Head Police Division, Onitsha, had on Friday, June 8, demanded ‘N100 settlement money’ from Agu who refused to pay, saying he had just commenced work on the day and had no money.
Magaji and his colleagues were said to have started shooting at Agu who, in his bid to avoid being hit by bullets, mistakenly rode his tricycle into the path of a speeding bus which crushed him to death.
The victims brother, Ikechukwu, was quoted by The Punch as saying, “My brother operated within Bridge Head Wood Market. I learnt that on that day around 3:00pm, the sergeant and his colleagues stopped him and demanded N100 from him, but he refused to give them the money.
“As he made to leave the spot, Sergeant Magaji chased and shot at him. He was knocked down by an oncoming bus while he was running to avoid being hit by bullets.
“Other riders pursued Magaji. He ran inside the station and his colleagues shielded him. My brother was rushed to a hospital where he died.”
Demanding justice for his slain brother, Ikechukwu added that the policemen at the station allowed Magaji to escape under the guise of going to urinate.
He said, “The DPO told us that the policeman escaped when he was taken out to urinate. Our parents had died and he had been struggling all alone to further his education.
“My brother lived in Asaba and came to work at Onitsha every day. It’s N100 fare from his residence to his place of work. I want justice for him.”