By Douglas Mojaye
A police officer has been reportedly killed when operatives of the Delta State Police Command clashed with youths and commercial motorcyclists otherwise known as Okada riders protesting in Ughelli, Delta State.
The youths were protesting against alleged intimidation, harassment and extortion by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other police officers in the area,
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Adamu Muhammed, had recently banned SARS and special units of the Force from patrols and mounting road blocks following a recent clash by men of the Operation Delta Safe and some youths in Ughelli.
It was learnt that the protest which has been generally peace turned violence after they had protested to the Police Area Command, Ughelli, at Otovwodo area of the city leading to the alleged killing of a police officer.
Another policeman and teenage youth were said to have reportedly sustained gunshot wounds during the clash.
The deceased policeman was said to have died on the spot while his colleague was rushed to the hospital.
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It was not clear if the policemen were shot by the protesting youths.
The protesting youths were alleged to have been stopped by the operatives to end the protest were alleged to have confronted the policemen which resulted in violence shooting and use of other dangerous weapons including cutlasses.
Our correspondent reports that the youths who began their protest from Ekiugbo section of the Ughelli city drove in a long convoy through the Ughelli Market, Ughelli Area Command, Isoko Road and other adjoining streets before fight broke out at Otovwodo Junction.
The protesting youths who were joined by Okada riders lamented alleged police harassment and extortion, called for an end to the activities of SARS.
The protest caused heavy vehicular traffic on the busy Ughelli-Patani section of East-West Road and the major roads in the town.
NIGER DELTA TODAY (NDT) Online also reports that commercial activities were temporarily grounded due to the #EndSARS protest.
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Some of the youths were chanting “No more SARS” others brandished placards bearing various inscriptions such as “save us from the onslaught of SARS”, “SARS are the criminals”, “Leave us Alone” among others.
One of the protesters who spoke with our correspondent said, “SARS should comply with the IGP’s prohibition and stop harassing them. After the IGP made the pronouncement, SARS and police officers are still mounting road blocks and harassing people in Ughelli. We want an end to SARS.”
Meanwhile, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed the protest but said she had not briefed if anyone was killed during the incident.
She said the police team was trying to disperse the protesting youth when violence broke out.
