WARRI- There is palpable tension in Odimodi community in Burutu LGA of Delta State as an unidentified mobile policeman guarding an oil facility being operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company has reportedly shot dead a soldier over disagreement.
Daily Watch confirmed that the incident occurred last Saturday during a misunderstanding which ensued between the two security officers leading to the sad incident which claimed the life of the military officer.
To confirm the incidence from the Commander OPDS, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi, who told our correspondent, “Don’t ask me that useless question is that clear? Don’t ask me.” It shows that the senior military officer was angered by the incidence and was not pleased to disclose any information to journalists’ inquiries.
Meanwhile, a community source who pleaded anonymity confirmed the incident but said they could not tell exactly what transpired between the two officers which led to shooting and killing.
Our reliable source said that witnesses had seen the two security men in a fierce exchange of words when other members of the team had reportedly gone on patrol to other oil facilities in the area. But only to hear about few minutes departure sporadic gunshots later.
Daily Watch gathered that the policeman after killing the victim, shot sporadically into the air to scare sympathizers from coming to the scene of the incident and escaped with the victim’s rifle for fear of an arrest.
It was gathered that operatives of the Joint Task Force (Operation Delta Safe) later sent its men to evacuate the corpse of the deceased from the scene.
A leader of the community, who also confirmed the incident, said the development has led to palpable tension among residents of the community over fear that the military might invade the community in search of the fleeing mobile policeman.
“The incident happened on Saturday at about noon. The two officers – a mopol and the military officer, were members of a combined security team that is stationed guard oil facilities in Odimodi community. Only two of them were around when they were ensued in a misunderstanding but after a while, we heard gunshots.
“When people got there, it was discovered that the mobile policeman has killed the soldier. The mopol was said to have cocked his gun and fired at the soldier and thereafter began to shoot sporadically to scare people away from the scene.
“He (policeman) took the soldiers gun and ran away. As at this moment, he has not been apprehended. The JTF authorities have evacuated the corpse of the slain soldier. There is palpable tension in the community as we speak for the fear that the military might invade the community”, one of sources told our correspondent on Monday.
One of the community sources said the community has no hand in the dastardly act, adding that the community leadership were ready to collaborate to fish out the culprit if he was still hiding anywhere near the community.
Efforts to speak with the spokesperson of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Major Ibrahim Abdullahi, proved abortive as several calls and sms messages sent were not responded.
