By Chidiebube Okeoma , Owerri
A source told our correspondent that Joseph, who hailed from Taraba State , was long overdue for promotion to the rank of inspector , but had yet to be promoted by the Police Service Commission .
The incident , which happened around 7am , caused panic in the area as residents gathered in groups to discuss what could have led the policeman to take his own life .
“While the bank workers were resuming for work for the day , they heard a gunshot at the security house by the gate . Upon enquiry , it was discovered that
the policeman had shot himself dead ,” a source at the bank said .
Our correspondent learnt that the cop had been venting his anger over the refusal of the police authorities to promote him to the rank of inspector .
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state , Orlando Ikeokwu , said the sergeant ’s corpse had been deposited in the morgue .
The police spokesperson said the rifle belonging to the police , which Joseph allegedly used in taking his own life , had been recovered .
Ikeokwu said the state Commissioner of Police , Rabiu Ladodo, had ordered an investigation into the incident .
The police spokesperson stated , “We have evacuated the corpse to a morgue and we have recovered the rifle . Suicide is not a crime, what is a crime is attempted suicide . He would have been arrested if anybody had rescued him while he was allegedly trying to commit suicide.
“ The CP ordered a full -scale investigation into the incident . We want to find out why a serving policeman , who earned salaries , took his own life .
There are many assumptions , but we don’t want to be carried away by them . We want to find out what led to the alleged suicide.
Copyright PUNCH.
