I shot him Because He Stabbed 3 Policemen- Police That Murdered 20-year-old Student

Victor

Mr. Matthew Eradiri, one of the policemen, standing trial at the State High Court, Nembe Division, Bayelsa State, for his involvement in the killing of 20-year-old Emmanuel Victor, says he fired at the young man to stop him from wreaking havoc on him and other policemen.

Eradiri, who is the second accused person in the murder trial, told the court that the deceased attacked him and his colleagues on duty with a pair of scissors on the fateful day, October 16, 2011.

He spoke when being cross-examined by the state’s counsel, Patricia Izeifa.

Victor was allegedly shot many times by policemen at a checkpoint on Sani Abacha Way, in Yenagoa, in the presence of his mother.

Victor and his mother were said to be returning from Christ Embassy Church on the fateful Sunday, when the young boy was said to have asked by the policemen to stop extorting motorists. The policemen were said to have taken offence and shot the student to death.

Eradiri explained that on that fateful day, he and two of his colleagues were on duty at Sani Abacha Expressway, Yenagoa.

He said about 11.45am, they received a stand down order to be on the watch.

Eradiri said at that time, he was under a tree by the road side and leaning on the back of their patrol vehicle which was parked by Ebis Mechanic Road Junction.

He stated, “About 12 noon, I saw a young man, whom I had never seen before, walking past. He was holding a Bible and at the same time, smoking Indian Hemp.

“When my team leader (the 1st accused) stopped Victor and advised him against the hemp, Victor assaulted him. My team leader was stabbed on both arms and in the back with a pair of scissors.

 “Victor also attacked me with the same scissors. He stabbed me on my right and left arms.”

Eradiri added that it was when the deceased attempted to stab the 3rd accused person, that he (Eradiri) corked his rifle and fired, unaware, that his rifle was at rapid response load. He said he had aimed at Victor’s knee in an attempt to demobilise him.

Upon further cross-examination by Izeifa, the following conversations were made:

Lawyer: Can we say when you shot him, you were not dizzy?

Accused: I was dizzy.

Lawyer: In your state of dizziness, you could still number the ammunition left in your gun?

Accused: Yes.

Lawyer: It is correct to say you were at your conscious state, since you could count your ammunition.

Accused: Laughs… I do not want to agree with you. (He was cautioned by the Judge. You have to take the questions seriously).

Accused: I was conscious and at the same time, I was dizzy.

Lawyer: When you saw the deceased pass with Bible and Indian Hemp, what were you supposed to do?

Accused: I was supposed to stop him.

Lawyer: Why did you not stop him?

Accused: Police work is discretionary.

Judge cuts in: If you see somebody committing an offence or suspected to have committed an offence, you have no discretion. You cannot say if you see someone committing an offence, you have no discretion to arrest him.

Accused: My Lord, today’s police work is political.

Lawyer: Did you see the deceased stab the first accused?

Accused: Yes. I saw him.

Lawyer: While the drama was going on, what did the third accused do?

Accused: He ran away for his life.

Lawyer: Do you want this court to believe that the deceased, on a broad day light, assaulted three trained policemen fully armed?

Accused: Yes.

The judge, Justice Lucky Boufili, adjourned the matter till Thursday, October 10, 2013.

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