Akwa Ibom: Police take action after troubling shooting incident

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The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has ordered the detention of an officer attached to the Quick Response Squad, QRS, following the alleged shooting of a seven-year-old boy in Uyo, the state capital.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, gave the order and also directed that a full investigation be conducted into the incident.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John.

The statement said, “Preliminary information available to the Command indicates that at about 2130hrs, police personnel conducting a routine stop-and-search operation along Abak Road stopped a vehicle conveying members of a family.

“It was alleged that during the encounter, a smoke pistol was discharged by one of the officers, resulting in an injury to the left hand of a seven-year-old boy who was inside the vehicle.

“Immediately the incident was brought to the attention of the Commissioner of Police, he directed that the officer allegedly involved, Inspector Monday Okonta, be identified, disarmed and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Uyo, pending the outcome of a comprehensive investigation.

“Demonstrating the seriousness with which the command views the incident, CP Baba Mohammed Azare personally visited the injured child at the hospital, where he interacted with the family, assessed the condition of the child and assured them that the matter would be thoroughly investigated. The child is presently in stable condition and responding to treatment.

“CP Azare expressed concern over the incident and assured the family of the injured child that the command would establish the full circumstances surrounding the matter.

“The Commissioner of Police reiterated that while officers of the command will continue to discharge their lawful duties of crime prevention, stop-and-search and protection of lives and property, such duties must at all times be carried out with the highest level of professionalism, restraint, responsibility and respect for the safety and rights of members of the public.”

The police command stressed that it would not protect or tolerate any officer found to have engaged in misconduct, recklessness or abuse of authority.

“Accordingly, where the investigation establishes misconduct or culpability, appropriate disciplinary and legal measures will be taken in accordance with extant laws and police regulations.

“The CP appealed to the family concerned and members of the public to remain calm and allow the investigation to run its full course, assuring that the process will be transparent, professional and fair to all parties,” the statement added.

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