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A yet-to-be-identified police officer deployed to Emohua Local Council of Rivers State has been reportedly shot dead at a checkpoint around the Emohua axis of the East-West road by suspected criminals.

A member of a local vigilante group, Ohaka Obisike, who confirmed the killing said, a man was also hit by stray bullet while driving in his car.

Obisike, who complained about the decision of the Nigeria Police Force to stop local vigilantes from carrying firearms, said the order has demoralised them from carrying out action against criminals terrorising the area.

He also rued the alleged indifference of traditional and political stakeholders in the area to the worsening security situation. “There is a Rapid Response Police (RRP) checking point, so the boys came out and started shooting, in the process a policeman and one driver were killed.

“As a result of the incident, everywhere was deserted and all the vehicles were at a standstill. While other policemen were still at the mouth of the bridge.

“This is why we are complaining of the order by the police to collect riffles from the local vigilante officials, because if they are well armed, they are supposed to support in fishing out these criminals.”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the killing of a policeman, but insisted that his riffle was intact.

She also said efforts were on to track the sponsors of criminality in the area.