By Onome Oghenetega
A 29-year-old man has been reportedly shot to death by yet-to-be identified policemen at Obinomba area of Umukwata kingdom in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State.
The victim simply identified as Gift was murdered by armed policemen who stormed the venue of his birthday at a popular bar at Obinomba community.
The incident happened about 10:30pm on Friday leading to massive protest from residents of the community.
It was learnt that the operatives were said to have shot into the air sporadically before allegedly shooting the deceased.
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Gift was said to have been rushed to Dominion Medical Center in Obiaruku where he was pronounced dead on arrival (DA).
Sources who witnessed the incident narrated that nothing incriminating was found on the celebrant and his friends before one of the operatives shot directly at him.
The wife of the deceased just delivered three months ago before the sad incident.
“Some of the boys that were there with him said the policemen just drove down without interrogating anybody. They started shooting into the air and then aimed at the boy, shot him. They allowed him to bleed to death.
“When did notice that the young man was bleeding and gasping for air, they immediately rushed him to Dominion Medical Center here in Obiaruku but on arrival the guy was confirmed dead and then they dropped him and zoomed off”, one of the witnesses claimed.
However, the gruesome murder of the deceased has resulted in massive protest as residents comprising women and youths have blocked the Obiaruku section of the ever-busy Sapele/Abraka-Agbor Expressway to demand for justice.
The protesters are demanding for the arrest, dismissal and prosecution of the officers involved in the killing of the victim.
Meanwhile, troops of the Nigerian Army have been deployed to Obiaruku and Obinomba areas of Ukwuani LGA to restore peace.
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It was gathered that Ukwuani LGA chairman Hon. Possible Ajede also led a team of military officers to meet with the deceased’s family and members of the community.
Ajede said while addressing the community that, “Human live is sacrosanct and my administration will get to the root of this ugly incident and ensure that justice is served.”
Accompanied by the Leader of the House, Ukwuani 7th Assembly, Osaeliogor Clarus and the Secretary to the Local Government, Mr Dafikpaku Harry Chukunedum, the council chairman appealed to the protesters to open the barricades to allow vehicular movement.
Efforts to get clarification from the spokesman of the Delta State Police Command on the incident proved abortive at the time of filing this report.
