It was a tragic moment as youths travelling for a wedding outside Rivers State attacked and killed a female Police Inspector. The youths attacked Mrs. Christiana Erekere, and hacked her to death at her duty post in Taabaa Police Station, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to report, the incident occurred on Thursday, April 25, 2024. The youths numbering over 30 and loaded in two buses and a car were stopped for a routine check in front of the police station.
“The deceased, who was a widow, was among a team of policemen conducting the search. But infuriated by the delay caused by the police, the youths travelling to Akwa Ibom State for a wedding programme approached them and unleased terror on the policemen.
According to report, trouble started when a police queried the validity of the document of one of the cars they were travelling in.
A source who pleaded anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the incident said the youths became aggrieved and blocked the road. They demanded that the senior Police officer who had their car papers should return them and allow them to go.
The source stated that the police officer handed over the papers to them and after completing the search asked them to leave. But that the youths refused, to go. They had alleged that they saw Mrs. Erekere filming them during the melee. They, therefore, tried to seize her mobile phone.
“When they could not take her phone, they started throwing stones at her and used sticks to hit her. They also beat the other policemen who ran away. But they continued to beat the woman until she passed out.”
The source said, “On April 25, 2024, at about 2:30 pm, Inspector Christiana Erekere (female) while on duty at Taabaa Division in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, was beaten to death by some group of persons with three vehicles from Delta State going to Akwa Ibom State for marriage.
“The boys were intercepted at a stop and search point, directly opposite the police station, Taabaa, by a police officer… The particulars of one of the vehicles were collected by a Deputy Superintendent of Police because of unclear explanation.
“The police officer decided to go to the office so that he could be furnished with sufficient information. Now, the deceased saw the way the boys were chasing her superior officer. And she started raising an alarm for help so that the attack would be prevented. But unfortunately, no one was there to assist. Or to prevent this group of people that succeeded in attacking the police station and killing the innocent woman.
“The boys quickly attacked her because they said she was making a video of them. Even when she fainted, they continued beating her. They left her when they saw that she was dead and drove away, on their way to Akwa Ibom.
“The source said they were apprehended by another police team while trying to escape. And that about 17 persons were identified and arrested while others were still at large.
Meanwhile, the family of the deceased woman has called for justice. They maintained that their sister was serving the nation and did not deserve to be killed like that.
The elder sister of the victim, Mrs. Nule Felix, lamented that her sister was mercilessly killed. That by the time she was rushed to a hospital, she was only confirmed dead.
source: PUNCH
