Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital boiled yesterday as a policeman reportedly shot dead three persons. Those shot dead are a commercial driver and two of his passengers, leading to rioting in the state’s capital.

According to reports, the policeman guarding a new generation bank at the Ekeki axis of the capital city was said to have opened fire on a commercial bus belonging to Peace Mass, a popular transport company in Yenagoa.

The policeman was said to have escaped through a commercial tricycle. The bullet according to eyewitnesses pierced through the driver’s head and hit two other passengers, including a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in the state.

The incident occurred opposite a Peace Mass terminus while the driver was trying to let his passengers disembark before making a detour to enter the terminus.

Trouble started when the policeman got enraged because the driver stopped the ill-fated bus in front of the bank. An eyewitness described the shooting as totally unnecessary, saying the driver was still behind the wheels of his vehicle when the policeman released the shot.

“We were just in front of here when the policeman started the argument that led to the shooting”, the source said.

“The argument was unnecessary because the driver was just trying to allow his passengers disembark the bus. I heard the driver telling the policeman that he would soon leave the place. But before we knew what was happening, the policeman cocked his gun and shot at him.

“He was lifeless. The bullet hit two other passengers, who were lying unconscious. It was an ugly sight. But the policeman immediately boarded a commercial tricycle and ran away.

“There are about three policemen guarding the bank, but this particular one has been troublesome. He is always aggressive and is always harassing and extorting commercial tricycles here. It is very disheartening. The bus came from Onitsha in Anambra State without problems only for this ugly incident to happen at its destination,” the source added.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Asinim Butswat, said the policeman had been arrested and taken to the Criminal Investigation Department of the police.

GUARDIAN