The Benue Police Command has confirmed that a police post at Awajir in Konshisha Local Government Area of the state was on Wednesday burnt down by irate youth.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in the state, Moses Yamu, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Makurdi that the station was burnt following altercations between officials of the State Produce Board and a motorist.

Mr. Yamu, an assistant superintendent of police, said the produce team had stopped a motorist for routine checks and an altercation had ensued, resulting in a crisis.

He explained that while the two aggrieved groups were engaged in altercation, a police patrol team sighted them and stopped to restore peace and order.

Mr. Yamu said one of the passengers grabbed a riffle from a policeman and shot a passerby, igniting the crisis in which the station was burnt.

He said no arrest had been made while normalcy had been restored in the area.

But some eye witnesses alleged that the commercial motorcyclist who was shot had refused to pay a bribe to the patrol team.

(NAN)