WARRI – By Okiemute Okpomor A trigger happy policeman attached to a popular transport company in Effurun, near Warri in Delta State has shot dead one Mr. Ese Eruotor, 22, commercial bus driver around popular and ever busy Effurun Roundabout-Mofor/DSC axis.
The killing led to negative reactions by drivers and friends. When Prompt News online visited the Mofor Unit of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, some drivers who spoke said that the killing of Eruotor by the police was oppressive, wicked and useless.
The visibly angry drivers accused the transport mogul of his incessant oppressive attitude of blocking all the routes from others to have their daily bread.
The narrative by some drivers stated that the late Mr. Ese Eruotor whose wife had a baby four months ago stopped at the front of the said transport company to pick a passenger going to Mofor when a policeman attached to the company made a prompt attempt to apprehend and impound the bus.
The late Eruotor upon sighting the policeman was said to have sped off as the policeman approached his vehicle.
Angered by his escape, the police man fired his rifle directly at the bus and the bullet was said to have went straight to hit the late Eruotor on his spinal cord which led to his death moment later.
Seen in their numbers were some of his colleagues who expressed their dismay over the killing and noted that the powers given to most transport companies are extremely too much.
They stated that as drivers, they only shuttle one route but the said company has over ten routes, they queried why a life should be taken just because of one passenger.
An official of NURTW, who spoke lamented the killing and blamed the police men attached to the transport company and some of the workers for their daily harassment on bus drivers.
He however urged the police authority to call their men to order to avoid breakdown of law and other and as well warned against any form of embarrassment or harassment.
The Eruotor hails from Kokori town in Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state and until his untimely death; he was resident at Orhuwhorun town, a suburban town to Warri.
Meanwhile, a source at the transport company told our correspondent that commercial drivers have been warned severally not to pick passengers from there adding that there is an order restricting commercial vehicles from picking passengers or loading their vehicles in front of the park but most time, the drivers violate this orders.
Contacted for comments and confirmation, Celestina Kalu, Police Public Relations Officer did not respond to calls made to her cell phone but a senior police officer at the State Headquarters confirmed that the trigger happy police has been arrested.
