“He promised to meet the management of Julius Berger and the workers in order to resolve the crisis”
Unwarranted interference by the police hired by construction giant, Julius Berger Plc, has claimed the life of one of the protesting workers in Gokana, Rivers State.
The workers had stormed Gokana Local Government council secretariat on a peaceful protest over ill-treatment by the construction company when a trigger-happy police officer shot at them, killing a staff identified as Samuel Ajayi.
Several others were injured in the incident, Persecondnews learnt.
The killer-cop was attached to Bori Police Divisional headquarters, it was also gathered.
Narrating their ordeal, one of the protesters, Mr Moses Oniron, told newsmen:“After they (policemen) stopped us from gaining access to the company’s premises yesterday (Monday), we thought it necessary to go to the council secretariat to lodge our complaint.
“In the process of going to the council, the policemen followed us. On getting to the secretariat, the chairman was not in the office, but we were received by his secretary, who addressed us and we left.
“At the point of going out of the council premises, we were attacked by these policemen and the Chief Security Officer of Julius Berger.
“The Divisional Police Officer of Bori Police Station shot at us and injured about five persons.”
He appealed to the authorities to wade into the tragic incident and investigate with a view to bringing the killer-cop to justice.
“We are calling on the Federal Government, the Rivers State Government, the chairman of Gokana LGA, and other stakeholders to come to our aid,” Oniron said.
The Bori Divisional Police Officer, SP Bako Angbashim, has denied shooting at the protesters.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Gokana Local Council, Mr Confidence Deekor, has urged the state police command to carry out a proper investigation into the shooting.
He promised to meet the management of Julius Berger and the workers in order to resolve the crisis.
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