Onitsha — MR. Makus Umeh, a sand dredger at the bank of River Niger, Onitsha in Anambra State who was shot thrice at the leg penultimate Friday by a police man attached to Fegge Police Station has said that it is by God's grace that he is still alive to narrate his ordeal in the hands of trigger happy policeman.

Umeh who spoke to newsmen from his hospital bed, where effort is being made to restore his right leg said one of his boys working for him was carrying him to old spare parts (Ngbuka) Obosi, to purchase spare part of his dredging machine that spoilt, when a policeman accosted him at Niger Street by Creek Road junction, near King Petrol Station, just few metres from where he is working.

He said the policeman who stopped them drew near them, insisting that he would examine what he was carrying and there ensued argument.

In the course of the argument Umeh said the policeman slapped him three times and as he moved to prevent him from further slapping him; he corked his AK-47 and emptied three bullets on his right leg.

He immediately slumped down, panting, writhing in pain and was shouting that they should take him to the hospital before he would lose excess blood.

Umeh was taken to Cyprian Hospital, Fegge, but was moved to a popular hospital in Onitsha which specializes in bullet wound and bone-stretching, where he is now receiving attention.

He said immediately the policeman pumped the bullets in his leg, he didn't know what was happening, but Daily Champion gathered that the people went after the policeman who ran to escape being lynched until somebody picked him on bike to Fegge Police station.

The mob at this juncture surged to the Fegge Police Station not only to lynch the policeman but to raze down the stallion if not for the intervention of the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Tafida Saleh who begged them not to carry out their threat.

Saleh who confirmed incident told newsmen that the policeman in question has been in police custody since the unfortunate development, but did not state if the police authority will take disciplinary action against the policeman since his victim did not die.

The DPO however cautioned people to resist the temptation of confronting policemen especially, when armed, no matter the level of provocation, stating that he heard that Umeh had scuffled with the policeman for his riffle resulting in the shooting.

He said shooting especially defenseless civilians is condemnable except for self-defence, appealing to the people to remain calm and thanked God that Umeh did not die.