The Bayelsa State Police Command says it will investigate an incident regarding the indiscriminate shooting and injuring of two civilians by some policemen and unidentified military personnel, who engaged each other in a scuffle in Yenagoa on Monday.
Sources said that the matter arose from the slapping of a soldier who was in mufti by a police officer attached to the members of the Bayelsa State Vigilante Service, often stationed around the ever-busy Tombia-Etegwe Roundabout Area in the state capital.
The trouble reportedly started when the soldier who was driving a Toyota Hilux vehicle against the traffic was told to turn back and follow the proper lane.
The military man was said to have refused and the situation degenerated to his being slapped by one of the policemen attached to the Bayelsa State-funded security outfit.
It was at this point that the soldier who is said to be working in one of the oil servicing firms in the state introduced himself.
He, however, later came back with two of his colleagues and engaged the policemen stationed at the Tombia-Etegwe roundabout in a fight, which ultimately led to the gun duel in the busy area.
In the ensuing fracas, two civilian passers-by, a 29-year woman, Ariweri Taralayefa, and a 38-year-old man, Omonopeno Oturu, were hit by stray bullets.
Police authorities say both victims have been treated and discharged from the hospital.
A statement released on the incident by the Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, Asinim Buswat, called for peace, adding that the military and the police authorities were jointly investigating the matter, for possible identification of the men involved.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
