PORT HARCOURT — A police officer allegedly shot and killed a driver at the Agip Junction, Ada George area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday evening, leaving three other persons injured after the vehicle reportedly lost control and crashed into bystanders.

The incident, which occurred at about 5pm, reportedly followed an attempt by police officers stationed around the Agip/Ada George Junction to stop the driver. An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that one of the officers opened fire after the driver failed to stop, with a bullet striking him in the chest. The driver was subsequently rushed to a nearby hospital, where he reportedly died.

The eyewitness claimed that the officer fired three shots and that the vehicle, after the driver was hit, veered out of control and struck three people. He further alleged that the officer began firing sporadically while attempting to leave the area, prompting youths at the scene to confront and disarm him before other police officers arrived and took him away. The incident reportedly heightened tension around the junction.

Efforts to obtain an official account were ongoing as of the time of filing.