Gun Shots As MOPOL And Naval Personnel Clash In Port Harcourt

There was tension and panic among motorists and
pedestrians as result of the shootings between Mobile
Policemen and some Naval men around Mobile Police,
MOPOL, Barracks, off ‘Mummy B’ road, Port Harcourt,
the Rivers State capital at about 6.pm.
It was not clear what led to the clash that led to exchange
of gunfire that made motorists and pedestrians who were
initially trapped in traffic jam to abandon their cars and
took to their heels in different directions.
The sound of gunshots caused traffic gridlock at GRA
junction, Port Harcourt /Aba expressway, Mummy B road
and Stadium road as motorists and Pedestrians tried to
hurry home.
Eyewitnesses said the fracas started over right of way in
the ever busy and congested roads in the rush hour
traffic.
According to eyewitnesses who called into WAZOBIA/
Info.fm radio Port Harcourt, evening programme traffic
report said they could not fathom what caused the verbal
exchange before they heard of gun shots.
Another eyewitness said: “A man suspected to be a
Mobile Policeman sprayed a substance suspected to be
teargas on the face of a military man.
At that instant the military man cocked his rifle and shot
a man in mufti. Within minutes other Mobile Policemen
swarm the scene and tried to disarm him. In the ensuing
melee shots were fired. I saw a military man running in
blood stains.”
A couple of other motorists confirmed hearing several
gunshots around the MOPOL barracks area prompting
them to take alternative routes home.
The Rivers Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad
Muhammad, confirmed there was an incident between
the Police and Naval Personnel but that the matter had
been resolved.
He denied that there was casualty in the clash that lasted
for half and hour.
Clashes between the military and policemen occur
frequently is always a commonplace at resulting to
deaths.
Source: PMNews