*As Isoko Leader Demands Thorough Investigations
By Ovie Okpare
The Delta State Police Command on Tuesday stated that the protesting Isoko youth who was reportedly shot dead during a protest at Ozoro in Isoko North Local Government Area of the State on Monday was killed by cultists.
It said allegations linking officers of the command with the killing is false.
This is even as a popular Isoko leader and founder of the award-winning Facebook group, Umeh Need Road, Chief Duncan Afahokor, has demanded thorough investigations into the circumstances surrounding gruesome murder of the youth.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), disclosed this in an interview with NIGER DELTA TODAY (NDT) Online on Tuesday.
Onovwakpoyeya also disclosed that no fewer than 35 suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident as well as causing mayhem in the community.
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NDT had reported that an unarmed youth simply identified as Clement aka Aro was reportedly shot dead during a protest at the popular Alla Square in the polytechnic community of Ozoro on Monday.
Witnessed accused police officers drafted to maintain peace at the protest ground of being responsible for the killing.
But other sources alleged that local vigilante members who came in company of the policemen fired the trigger that reportedly killed the youth believed to be in his early twenties.
It was gathered that the youths in their hundreds were protesting alleged police intimidation, harassment and illegal arrest when the incident took place.
But, responding to further enquiries by our correspondent, the Police Command exonerated officers at the Ozoro police division of being culpable in the shooting that led to the boy’s death.
Onovwakpoyeya said from investigations carried out by a police team led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police revealed that the deceased was killed by cultists.
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The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) further disclosed that the deceased was also a cultist.
“He’s a cultist. He was killed by cultists from our investigations. Our DCP had to travel to Ozoro and went to different places and all of these facts came out.
“That’s why I was careful not to say he was killed by police or not. It is now clear that he was killed by fellow cultists. Police is not responsible for the killing”, the police spokesperson said.
She, however, confirmed that 35 suspects were arrested over the incident, adding that one of the armed youths is an ex-convict who had just been released from prison.
“35 suspects have been arrested over the incident. We are transferring those arrested to Asaba by Wednesday. One of the youths you saw with a gun is an ex-convict who was just released from prison. He is also a cultist”, Onovwakpoyeya added.
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Meanwhile, Chief Afahokor, who condemned the killing, said pictures and videos from the protest indicated that the protesters including the deceased were unarmed.
In a statement on Tuesday, he said “I condemn in strong terms the extra Judicial killing of an Isoko youth at Ozoro yesterday by men of the Nigeria police force.
“The protesters from the videos we have seen so far, were only ‘armed with placards’ and chatting solidarity songs and this is allowed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
“The force used by the police to stop the peace protest was disproportionate, excessive and brutal.”
Afahokor, a lawyer, demanded for the arrest and prosecution of deceased alleged killers in accordance with the Law.
“My sincere condolence to the deceased family, Ozoro Community and Isoko youths in general”, he added.
