First class graduate shot dead in Kaduna by policeman.

A 30-year-old first class graduate of Economics from Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria, Moses Murtala Aminu, has been shot dead by a
policeman.

The victim had left his 67, Ahmadu Ahijo Street, Narayi-Highcost
family residence last week Sunday full of life for a party at Barnawa
, Kaduna, but could not return home as he was killed by a police
constable.

His friend and eyewitness told P.M.NEWS this morning that the police
constable identified as Alex Okpe was beating up his girlfriend
outside the venue of the party and when Murtala tried to intervene, he
got angry and pulled out his gun from his jeans trousers and fired
straight into his heart.

According to an eyewitness who spoke to P.M.NEWS under anonymity,
after Murtala was shot dead, the police constable then fired again in
the air twice to scare the people around and escaped on his
motorcycle.

Moses Andrew, a friend who was with Muri, as he was popularly called,
at the Time Out Lounge party venue in Barnawa, narrated that there was
pandemonium after Muri was shot and Okpe, the policeman, had escaped.

"We were confused while trying to revive Muri, when a guy informed us
that he knows a friend to Okpe's girlfriend that had left the party
for a club called X-One at Barnawa," Andrew said.

According to him, they quickly moved to X-One and fortunately met her there.

"We picked the lady who identified the policeman who killed Muri as
Alex Okpe, and that he serves at Kakuri Police Station but deployed to
guard Nigerian Brewries Plc.," Andrew added.

P.M.NEWS learnt that the killer policeman was later tracked down and
arrested by officers from Barnawa Police Division after the case was
reported there.

Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Femi Adenaike, who confirmed the
incident to P.M.NEWS, said it was true Alex Okpe was arrested and
during interrogation confessed to have killed Murtala Aminu at a party
venue.

Adenaike said Okpe claimed in his statement that he fired at Muri in
"self defence" when he and his friends were trying  to fight him over
his girlfriend.

He said the police didn't send Okpe to Barnawa at that time and if he
is found guilty, he would be dismissed and taken to court for trial.

"The suspect is in the cell and we have commenced investigation. And
if he is found guilty, we will give him an in-house trial and summary
dismissal so that he can face the law for homicide," the state police
boss said.

Adenaike urged the family of the deceased to remain calm as the police
are doing everything possible to investigate the case and ensure
justice is done.

The blind father of the late Muritala, Mohammed Jimoh, told
journalists at press conference at their High-Cost residence that as a
Muslim he's taught to accept the death of his son and bread winner as
an act of God.

But he said if his son had to die, it should not be in the hands of a
policeman who should have been responsible for protecting him.

"Yes my son, a first class economist for that matter and our hope, is
dead, but I want justice done in this case," Aminu said.

Until Murtala Aminu's death, he was the youth leader, Catholic Holy
Family Church, Barnawa.

He also owned a shawamar and roasted fish outlet at Narayi-Highcost.