Policeman stabs colleague to death in Bayelsa over ‘minor misunderstanding’

The Bayelsa police command says Sapele Eyeridideke, one of its operatives, has been stabbed to death by his colleague, identified as Governor Akpoboloukeme.

Ben Okolo, Bayelsa commissioner of police, who confirmed the development on Friday, said he has ordered that the suspect be detained, and also called for an investigation into the incident.

Asinmi Butswat, Bayelsa police spokesman, in a statement on Friday, said the incident occurred on November 4 at Edepie, Yenagoa.

AAkpoboloukeme, said to be off-duty at the time of the incident, reportedly stabbed Eyeridideke to death over a “minor misunderstanding”.

The suspect is said to have immediately fled the scene and attempted to escape to a neighbouring state before he was arrested on the East/West road.

According to NAN, an eyewitness said the two policemen, identified as “cousins”, had attended a marriage ceremony at a popular hotel in Yenagoa where the deceased made a joke as they sat on a table.

The suspect was said not to have been happy about the joke and the incident almost led to a fight, before friends intervened and tried to settle the issue amicably.

However, after they left the venue, Akpobolokeme reportedly trailed Eyeridideke to a secluded place and stabbed him with a dagger on the left part of his rib cage, and he was said to have died moments afterwards.

The witness also said the corpse has been deposited at a mortuary.