By Sampson Boroh
The Bayelsa State Police Command has finally opened up on the death of a youth allegedly shot by a police officer at Ovom community, Yenagoa, the state capital.
This is even as the state governor, Senator Douye Diri, has ordered full-scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged killing of the boy.
NIGER DELTA TODAY (NDT) Online gathered that a policeman allegedly shot and killed a minor in Ovom, a suburb of Yenagoa.
But the police command in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, SP Asinim Butswat, said the deceased in a bid to escape from police arrest jumped from a ceiling and sustained a deep cut that led to his death.
“On 18 March, 2021 at about 1100hours, the following suspects; ThankGod Edwin, Emomotimi Ebiye and James Ebala were apprehended at Yenezue-gene, Yenagoa, by the Hausa community where the suspects came to dispose three android phones on gunpoint. They were subsequently handed over to Police for investigation.
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“Upon interrogation the suspects confessed to have robbed the phones from the owners at gun point. They led police operatives to their hideout at Ovom, Yenagoa, to recover the gun used in the operation.
“On sighting the Policemen, one of the suspects climbed the ceiling and jumped out in a bid to escape, he subsequently got injured on the neck. He was taken to Federal Medical Centre, where a Doctor certified him dead”, the police explained.
The statement added that a locally made pistol was recovered from the hoodlums’ hideout during the raid of the area.
“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy”, the police imagemaker added.
It further added that the state commissioner of police, Mike Okoli, appealed for calm and has ordered for full-scale investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of the suspect.
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Meanwhile, Governor Diri, who ordered full-scale investigation into the incident, also directed that an autopsy be carried out to determine the cause of the death.
The governor gave the directive on Thursday night through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, after being briefed in Uyo where he is attending a state cabinet retreat.
He said the government would ensure perpetrators of the dastardly act are uncovered and brought to book.
“Human life is sacred. As a responsible government we would not shy away from our responsibility of protecting it. Anyone who takes another person’s life would be held accountable through the laws of the land,” he said.
Governor Diri sympathised with the family of the deceased as well as the community, urging them to be calm and maintain the peace while a thorough investigation is being carried out.
