By Francis Ekeh
Palpable fear has gripped residents of Abuja sub urban cities of Karu, Jikwoyi and Kurudu following the alleged death of a police officer by yet to be identified persons
Dailynewscraft gathered that the ugly incident took place sunday night along Jikwoyi – Kpegi axis
According to eye-witness account there was fighting between the police and those who pick condemned plastics and cans popularly known as ” babambola” in the local language.
According to the source fracas started sunday night when some Police officers came to dislodge the babambola following complaints by some residents of Jikwoyi who were said to have complained of the nefarious activities of the street urchins
The residents were alleged to accused the babanbola of being hostile to the residents as well as stealing and armed robbery including snatching of Handsets, handbags and other personal belongings from road users especially Keke passengers and those that pass through the U-turn located close to Ave Maria college at night.
On sighting the police officers, the babambola according to the eye-witness allegedly teamed up and resisted the Police and in the process killed one of the police officers and snatched his gun while the police arrested some of them
The incident led to stampede with some youths raising bonfires on the road, while the police embarked on manhunt of the killers of their colleague
The incident caused heavy traffic on the road with many residents afraid to come out for fear of either being killed or arrested by the police
Meanwhile, a combined team of security agents in the early hours of monday began house to house search of the area where many of the bambola were alerted and taken to at the Jikwoyi divisional police headquarters. The team comprised of men of the Nigerian Army, Police and Civil Defence
They also arrested some of the youths that blocked the road and made traffic difficult for residents of the area.
As at the time writing filing this report there is calm in the area and the blockade has been cleared.
Meanwhile, the identity of the Police officer who was allegedly killed during the fight is yet to be known as efforts to get the FCT Police Public Relations Officer failed.