About eight passengers died yesterday when an official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) shot at a commercial bus.
The driver was trying to escape the officials who stopped him.
Policemen, led by the commissioner, Danmallam Mohammed, prevented a breakdown of law and order.
The bus caught fire as it allegedly fell into a ditch at the Miliken Hills valley with NSCDC officials in pursuit.
A passenger escaped with injuries and is recuperating in hospital. The dead were deposited at the Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre Morgue.
The driver had allegedly stopped to pick up a passenger from an unlawful spot.
NSCDC officials confronted him but he sped off. They pursued him in a tricycle.
Angered by the development, residents attempted to march to the office of the NSCDC officials.
They blocked the entrance to Miliken Hills and Ngwo old road, chanting war songs.
Mohammed described the incident as unfortunate, saying they would not allow anyone jeopardise the peace in the state.
He said: “What happened is very unfortunate, especially with the peace we are enjoying. This kind of thing should not be allowed. That’s the reason why I am here. I have appealed to them, they should leave everything to us.
“Investigation has started and have asked eyewitnesses to give us discreet information which will help in our investigation. We assure them that whoever is involved will be brought to book.”
NSCDC spokesman Denny Manuel Iwuchukwu said the bus was not shot at.
“We have a directive from the government that nobody should pick passengers on that road. So, when the driver stopped to pick a passenger, our operative told him that it was wrong for him to do that.
“As our man entered the bus, he zoomed off with him. So, other officers on ground chased him. In the process, the bus fell into the ditch. We chased after the vehicle because he drove off with our man. However, no shot was fired,” he said.
