Residents of MOPOL Barracks in Port Harcourt, Rivers State were shocked and forced to panic after men of the Mobile Police and Naval personnels clashed.
A serious clash between Mobile Policemen and some Naval men around Mobile Police, MOPOL, Barracks, off ‘Mummy B’ road, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital at about 6.pm has created chaos and tension in the area.
Although what caused the clash could not be ascertained, however, the clash led to exchange of gunfire that made motorists and pedestrians who were initially trapped in traffic jam to abandon their vehicles and took to their heels in different directions.
The clash also caused traffic gridlock at GRA junction, Port Harcourt /Aba expressway, Mummy B road and Stadium road as motorists and Pedestrians tried to hurry home.
An eyewitnesses said: “A man suspected to be a Mobile Policeman sprayed a substance suspected to be teargas on the face of a military man. At that instant the military man cocked his rifle and shot a man in mufti. Within minutes other Mobile Policemen swarm the scene and tried to disarm him. In the ensuing melee shots were fired. I saw a military man running in blood stains.”
A couple of other motorists confirmed hearing several gunshots around the MOPOL barracks area prompting them to take alternative routes home. The Rivers Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Muhammad, confirmed there was an incident between the Police and Naval Personnel but that the matter had been resolved.