The people of Idjerhe Kingdom in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State have called on the Inspector General Police and the commissioner of police in the state to investigate and prosecute the policemen responsible for the unwarranted shooting of the Kingdom’s vigilante commander and some of his men.
The shooting of the vigilante commander and two other of his lieutenants has sparked anger and protest from residents of Idjerhe communities, demanding that those behind the shooting of the vigilante operatives must be unearthed.
It was gathered that the vigilante leader and two other operatives who were shot by the policemen are now lying in critical condition at an undisclosed hospital.
Speaking during a protest organised by Idjerhe women and attended by traditional chiefs and Illotu from various communities in Idjerhe Kingdom in Jesse town, Delta State, the protesters claimed that the irate policemen were in illegal duty.
The Otota (Spokesperson) of Great Idjerhe Kingdom, Chief Onosia James Obriki, decried the unprovoked attack on members of Idjerhe vigilante group, saying that the injured persons were currently receiving treatment “for life threatening injuries sustained during the attack”.
Chief Obriki, flanked by the Unuevworo of Idjerhe Central, Chief Solomon Ojariafe; President General, Idjerhe Kingdom Development Union, Chief Lucky Edomidaghan and others, demanded justice for the illegal attack.
Disclosing details of the attack, the high-ranking traditional chief said, “On the 30th of January 2024, some police officers came to Idjerhe kingdom to terrorize the peaceful people of the community.
“On this faithful day the police officers intimidated and harassed the Commander of the Idjerhe Kingdom’s vigilante outfit, Mr. Freeborn Ofeshohwo Alia’s Cornerstone, Mr. Friday Johnson and Enor Young and other members. This is a man who has served this Kingdom meritoriously for the last 10 years and not found wanting in any way of criminality or otherwise.
“They came under the pretense of looking for drugs at the country-home of the vigilante commander. There were no elements of drugs dealings as they alleged. If there were, they should have found some of these drugs after properly investigating the allegations, before going ahead to engage in their extra-judicial shooting and maiming of our law abiding sons of Idjerhe Kingdom.
“Our investigation has revealed that when the Police officers came to Idjerhe Kingdom, they went to the Jesse Town Police station to book their arrival, claiming that they were in search of cultists. They entered the Kingdom in the middle of the night.
“However, their claim turned to be false and with a mission to harass and intimidate the vigilante commander on issues of drug dealings the primary aim of extorting money from him. If they had not come with the mission to extort money from our people, they should have opened up at the Jesse Town police station and inform the leadership of the police station that they have come for drugs related matters.
“It is very shameful that police officers on approved mission by their superior will come to make arrest and eventually abort the mission, by running away leaving behind their identity cards and cell phones after engaging in unwarranted behaviors.
“We the people of great Idjerhe kingdom, hereby call on the Inspector General of Police to properly investigate and arrest all the police officers that were involved in this unprofessional misconduct.
“It is on record that Idjerhe Kingdom’s leadership had consistently assisted the police to fight crime of all kinds, and it is un-charitable for the police to pay us back in such manner, by shooting one of the arrow-heads of the kingdom’s fight against criminals and criminalities.”
Also speaking during the protest, the Unuevworo of Idjerhe Central, Chief Ojariafe, appealed to the new commissioner of police to thoroughly investigate the incident and bring the erring officers to book for causing chaos in the Kingdom.
Ojariafe also added that another vigilante member was brutally injured while they attempted to throw him over the Sapele Bridge along the Benin/Sapele road.
Meanwhile, efforts to speak with the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, on the incident proved abortive as his line was not connecting.
