° Police deny shooting protesters
Angry protesters stormed Police Area Command in Ughelli and beat up policemen.
The protesters were against police presence on their road, but the Area Commander refused to comply with their demand as he explained that the police presence on the road was one of the state police strategies to deny kidnppers and other criminals opportunity to operate,but his explanation did not go down well with the community who stormed the Area Command to protest, but ended up beating up policemen while the police used teargas to dispers the protesters
But the community has alleged that the police shot some protesters with live bulket.
However, in a quick reaction, the state police command has denied shooting at the protesters.
In a press statement by Delta State Police Public Relations Officer ( PPRO) SP Bright Edafe, he explained that:”The Command is aware of an allegedly sponsored protest in Ughelli North LGA,on May 6, 2024, and wishes to debunk the false narratives currently being circulated on some sections of the media that policemen shot at peaceful protesters. The Command wishes to state that nobody was shot during the protest, however, tear gas was rightly used to disperse the protesters. For the avoidance of doubt and to put the record straight, the Command wishes to state as follows;On 6th of May 2024, at about 1130 am , some members of Oteri community, Ughelli,a approached the Area Commander Ughelli, and requested that policemen be withdrawn from the express road. The Area commander declined and informed them that the deployment was in compliance with the directive of Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, on the need to ensure police presence in that area to prevent kidnapping and other crimes.
“Surprisingly, women from the community in their numbers, forcefully stormed the Area command premises in a violent protest, beating up a policeman in the process, and they were dispersed with the use of tear gas. The report making the rounds that policemen shot at peaceful protesters is false and should be completely disregarded.
“CP Abaniwonda Olufemi sues for calm and reiterates that the Command will not succumb to pressure from any quarters because the adequate protection of life and property is the constitutional mandate of the police and remains the priority of the Command”.
