By Ifeanyi Okolie

To 54-year-old Patrick Nwabuebo, a veteran taxi driver who have cruised the nooks and crannies of highbrow areas in Ikeja, Lagos State, there was no iota of premonition of what befell him on Tuesday, 16th August, 2011, which turned out to be his last day on earth.

•Slain Patrick Nwabuebo - Who pulled the triger?

He sat idly on the bonnet of his Volkswagen Passat car waiting for passengers at the ever- busy Allen Junction in Ikeja, when a bullet from a police rifle struck him on the chest and he reportedly slumped and died. Sighting his corpse, a mobile policeman attached to Mobile Squad 20, who was said to be chasing a man believed to have had a quarrel with a barbecue seller at the popular Pekas night club, took to his heels to avoid been lynched by some angry crowd.

Crime Alert gathered that, the mobile policeman who fired the shoot, Cpl. Gwamani Maimako and his colleague Sgt. Ibrahim Usman, were both stationed at the club since January 2011, to provide additional security to the place due to it’s notoriety. Last Tuesday was however, not the best day for them as they ended it in a sad note.

Eyewitnesses alleged that Corporal Gwamani was chasing a man who had bought a barbecue and refused to pay and he fired some shots in other to scare him, when it became apparent he could not catch up with him. They also alleged that the police officer might have been drunk as at the time he fired those shots.

A resident who simply introduced himself as Charles told Crime Alert that most of the policemen operating around that area at night were known for behaving in a disorderly manner.

“This is because they there are many clubs around this area and the policemen are usually drunk. Besides, they are easily distracted because of the plethora of prostitutes who usually patronize these night clubs,” he said.

However, defending his action the Police Corporal, Gwamani vehemently denied accusation that he fired the shot that snuffed life out of the taxi driver whom he described as ‘a nice man’.

He also dispelled claims that he was drunk at the time of the incident. He told Crime Alert during a visit to the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos, where he is being detained that a man who was dragging his rifle with him pulled the trigger that forced out the bullets that killed the taxi driver.

While narrating the incident to Crime Alert, he said “On that faithful night, I was outside the club doing my duty when I saw the club’s bouncers trying to drag a man out of the club but the man proved to be so difficult and he refused going out.

The area became so charged that I had to move closer to the gate and approached the man. I was putting on my mobile uniform and my Ak47 rifle was strapped on my shoulder, then I asked the man to go out of the club and give way for peace.

He looked at me and asked why I was talking to him in that manner. I went closer to him this time and I told him, “you have been asked to leave this club, please go away.” This man got so angry with my interference and asked what my business was in the whole issue.

I cautioned him that this is a public place and he should mind his behaviors and should not cause trouble for other people. He then looked at me angrily and asked if I was insulting him because I had a gun with me and that he has handled guns, even before I joined the police force and I can’t threaten him with a gun.

Then he moved closer to me and grabbed my gun. Because he was twice bigger than me and even more powerful, I cocked my rifle instantly to scare him away but he was undeterred.

While trying to take the rifle away from me, he threw me on the ground but I held the rifle firmly, because I knew he will use it first if he succeeded in the brawl. The struggle went on for some time with a crowd of on onlookers watching from different directions.

I presumed they were all scared to intervene because an error would be devastating. At one point, the hefty man held the boot of the rifle and I also held the other part which rested on my shoulder as I tried pulling it off his grip. I did not really know how it happened, the next thing I heard was sounds of shots, followed by a loud painful scream, from a male voice.

At that instant, I knew something was wrong and the big man shoved me powerfully to the ground and immediately took to his heels. Some of the onlookers went after him and some others rushed to the dying man.

But when I got to my feet, I saw a large crowd running after the man that fought me. Then I couldn’t aim a shot at the man because of the crowd in front. When I got back, I learn that the taxi driver who was hit accidentally was dead.

I didn’t kill him as people presumed; it was an accidental discharge. I have known him for a long time and we have never quarreled. The killing was not intentional. I feel very terrible now that it has happened, but this is one of the hazards of the job. I hope the family of the dead man will reason with me and understand that his death was a total error.” he lamented.

However, the younger brother to the deceased, Mr. Monday Nwabuebo, told Crime Alert that the family is in high state of grief, giving the taxi driver’s position as the bread winner. “ He left behind five children and one of which will be getting married in two weeks time, his wife is currently in our village at Obulukwu, Delta State, preparing for her daughter’s traditional marriage.

Now that he is gone, who would take care of the family he left behind? I am also skeptical of how the police will handle the investigation since it involves them directly. I appeal to the state government to assist us in our pursuit for justice.”