In a shocking incident that has sparked widespread outrage, a 40-year-old electrician, Benalayefa Asiayei, was fatally shot by a policeman on Azikoro Road in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital. The tragic event occurred around 8 pm on Tuesday as Asiayei was returning home from work in his Toyota Sienna.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Musa Mohammed, confirmed that the policeman involved is part of the state security outfit, Operation Doo Akpo. According to eyewitness accounts, the Operation Doo Akpo patrol stopped Asiayei’s vehicle and demanded a N200 bribe, a routine extortion from motorists. When Asiayei expressed that he didn’t have the money and complained about the harassment, the policeman suddenly opened fire, killing him on the spot.
Asiayei, a native of Bobougbene community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, was carrying a single passenger when the incident occurred. The scene took a dramatic turn when Asiayei’s in-law, identified only as Zaiky, came upon the vehicle and discovered the body. Amid the chaos, Zaiky and other eyewitnesses managed to capture photos of the policeman, who then fled in the patrol van.
The authorities later transported Asiayei’s body to Government House Hospital and subsequently to the mortuary at the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa. The brutal killing has ignited calls for justice from the deceased’s family and the local community.
In a heartfelt plea, the family urged Governor Douye Diri, the Inspector General of Police, and the Ijaw Youth Council to take immediate action against police brutality. They demanded that the policeman responsible for Asiayei’s death be brought to justice.
“We are calling on the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen. Douye Diri, and the Inspector General of Police to urgently ensure the policeman who shot Bena is held accountable. We also call on the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide to take necessary action against police brutality in Bayelsa State,” the family declared.
This incident has once again highlighted the urgent need for reform within the Nigerian police force to prevent such tragic events and restore public confidence in law enforcement.
