According to The Nation, a 27-year-old man has been allegedly shot dead by a policeman inspector at Banana Junction in Amaifeke town near Orlu in Imo State.

The officer was in a team of policemen who mounted road block in that area.

It was gathered they were using the opportunity to enforce the wearing of facemask ordered by the State Government to curb the spread of COVID-19 when the incident occurred.

The unindentified deceased, who hailed from the nearby Okporo community, was carrying a passenger and not putting on a facemask when the Inspector stopped him.

According to sources at the scene of the incident, the man was asked to pay some amount of money before he could go with his motorcycle.

But the deceased was said to have insisted that he would not pay because others who did not wear facemasks were allowed to go without their bikes being impounded.

“When this argument was going on, I don’t know what happened that led the inspector to shoot him at close range and the man died instantly, forcing the policemen to enter their vehicle and run away,” an eyewitness told The Nation.

The incident caused unrest in the town as residents trooped out to protest the killing.

It was gathered that policemen manning Orlu council Headquarters quickly removed their uniforms and disguised as civilians.

Commissioner of Police, Isaac Akinmoyede, confirmed the incident to The Nation on phone, saying one of the officers was matcheted.

The CP said: “The situation is being managed. It is true that a policeman killed a man but the situation is not out of control. People whose loved one was killed have a right to be angry. One of the policemen was also macheted and he is in a hospital as we speak.

“I have told all the parties to remain calm.The situation will be handled. I have instructed the Area Commander to ensure that normalcy is returned. Justice will be served in the matter.”

Akinmoyede assured that the trigger- happy inspector and all the persons involved in the incident would be arrested and prosecuted.