Police Officer Faces Trial For Shooting Man Over Governorship Election Argument In Plateau State

A police officer in Plateau State, Nigeria, is set to face an orderly room trial on Monday for shooting a young man identified as Nyommena Badapba during a political argument. The argument ensued on Sunday when the officer, identified as Solomon Damak, was conversing with Badapba about the upcoming governorship election in the state. During the argument, the officer was alleged to have insulted the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, to which the victim objected. This objection reportedly led the officer to shoot him in the shoulder.

According to reports, the victim is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Plateau State. The state police command has confirmed the detention of the officer in a police facility in Jos, the state capital. In a statement, the Plateau Police Public Relations Officer, Alabo Alfred, described the officer's action as unprofessional and condemned the shooting of the civilian. The Commissioner of Police, Bartholomew N. Onyeka, has directed officers to visit the victim at the hospital and arrange for payment of his medical bills.

The Plateau State Police Command assured the public that the disciplinary process would not be compromised, and the outcome of the proceeding would be made public. The commissioner urged the public to remain calm and law-abiding as the command is doing all within its power to protect the lives and property of all Plateau residents. The orderly room trial for the erring officer is set to commence on March 6, 2023.

In his statement, the Plateau Police Public Relations Officer, Alabo Alfred, said,

"The Plateau State Police Command condemns in strong terms the shooting of an unsuspecting civilian, Mr Nyommena Salah Badapba ‘m’ of Tudun Wada, Jos by an obdurate personnel of the Command, Inspr Solomon Damak,"

"The circumstance that led to the infliction of the gun injury by the recalcitrant officer does not fit into his professional calling but was done out of vindictiveness which contradicts the attributes of a Nigerian Police officer...the erring officer has been defaulted and his orderly room trial will commence March 6, 2023."