Mob torches police van over alleged killing of cyclist

Angry mob yesterday attacked a police team and burned their operational vehicle after a member of a local vigilante group accidentally shot dead a commercial motorcycle operator.

The incident, which took place in the Mofor area of Udu the outskirts of Warri, Delta State, led to pandemonium.

The Guardian learnt that the mob, who were angered by the shooting of the cyclist, swooped on the police vehicle parked nearer to the scene of the incident and set it ablaze, thinking the policemen shot the deceased.

The mob also attacked the vigilante team and inflicted severe injury on a member, who allegedly shot the rider. He was rushed to an undisclosed hospital.

The Delta State Police spokesman, DSP Bright Edafe, who confirmed the incident, said: “It was a vigilante that shot the Okada rider, not a policeman as alleged. He’s currently in a hospital after he was clubbed by a mob.”

Meanwhile, partial calm has returned to the area as police units were deployed to the location to maintain law and order.

Also, the culprit who refused to disclose his name, said the shooting was an accidental discharge. He has been detained by the police for further interrogation.