Police Orders Probe of Murder of DSP by Colleagues in Bayelsa

Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa

The murder last week of an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mathew Akpos, who was mistaken for a criminal by his colleagues is to be probed.

It was gathered that the Force Headquarters has mandated the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 5 to investigate the circumstances that led to the murder of Akpos in Yenagoa.

THISDAY learnt that the police have already constituted a team to probe the incident as it has caused the force a huge embarrassment.

It was gathered that three policemen suspected to have been involved in the operation have been arrested and are being investigated over the incident.

Akpos, who was attached to the Bayelsa State command before his death, it was gathered, was shot by a team of policemen known as the ‘’Special Squad’’, during a search for a suspect around the Amarata area of Yenagoa.

The deceased reportedly drew out his pistol when the team of policemen wanted to forcefully seize him and throw him into their vehicle, unknown to them that he was one of their colleagues.

On noticing that Akpos had a gun on him, the special police squad leader immediately shot him and took his body away.

A police source who preferred not to be quoted said the incident was embarrassing, describing it as a case of mistaken identity.

“The killing of the officer is embarrassing and shocking to the police. Some persons have been arrested and investigations are ongoing”, the source said.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Asinim Butswat , was not immediately available for comments, but a top police source confirmed the arrest of the suspected culprits, noting that the incident jolted the police.

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