…One Dead, two injured, says PPRO
No fewer than three youths have been reportedly killed while several others sustained severe degrees of injuries from sporadic gun shots allegedly fired by security operatives to dispel protesting youths against operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in a raid carried out in Ughelli, the administrative headquarter of Ughelli north local government area of Delta State.
The protest also took place simultaneously in Warri where the anti-graft agency arrested 96 suspected yahoo boys in both cities.
It was also gathered that 12 trucks and a military van were set ablaze when the angry youths took the street of Otovwodo Community, same area #ENDSARS, took it’s root, leading to the death of a police officer, Sergeant Stanley Etaga.
Miffed by the arrest of the youths who have been whisked to Port Harcourt, Rivers State by the personnel of EFCC, the youths transfered their aggression on innocent citizens, petty traders and hustlers looking for their daily bread.
But reacting to the number of deaths, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Delta State Police Command, DSP Edafe Bright, said: “One person is dead, two other persons injured. I think they are recovering in the hospital.
“From the DPO’S report, two persons injured, one dead. It was when the DPO was able to go to the hospital to check before we were able to get those information.
“But nobody knows who shot. Whether it was them I don’t know because it was learnt that some of them came with guns”.
He said the situation is under control, adding “Nigeria cannot be that lawless”.
However, according to Emerald News, the Youth President, Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Eemena Umukoro, on Tuesday night, disclosed that the protest happened in the twin cities of Ughelli and Warri simultaneously, a development which led to fatalities among youths and the destruction of properties in Ughelli.
According to Umukoro, the protest was started by unknown group of youths who claimed to be aggrieved by the action of EFCC officials. He told this medium that the EFCC operatives stormed Warri and Ughelli a few days ago and indiscriminately arrested over 96 youths.
He said though the UPU youth wing leadership condemned the indiscriminate arrest of youths, he also condemned the acts of his people who transferred their aggression on properties of innocent persons who are striving to make ends meets and take care of their children. He said destruction of government and private properties is not the right way to go.
Umukoro, who spoke to Emerald News from Otovwodo where he had gone to have a firsthand assessment of the damage done by the rampaging youths said: “I’m at Ughelli at the moment. I can tell you that over 12 trucks have been destroyed.
“They are not owned by EFCC personnel but private businesses. A military vehicle was also destroyed. Many youths were injured in the melee. Bullet flew and hit many persons. I cannot quantify the level of destruction I’ve witnessed today in Ughelli.
“As the ethnic youth president, I condemn the harassment of our youths, but our people should also not take laws into their hands. To destroy and loot legitimate business of people is wrong. The trucks burnt do not belong to EFCC.
“The military personnel who came started shooting in the air, the youths retaliated and that was when they started attacking the military. I understand that accidental discharge occurred and so many youths were injured. This is not what we want at this critical time.
“For now I have been able to get to persons injured in the hospitals. The military, the Nigerian police, civil defense and vigilante officials are at Otovwodo where the incident happened and there is normalcy everywhere.”
He called on the EFCC operatives to carry out their duties according to law, saying indiscriminate harassment of people should be discouraged. He also said the EFCC officials should employ the same energy to face Nigerian politicians who have stolen and continue to steal the wealth of Nigerians and bring them to justice.
The Urhobo youth president told this medium that his group is on top of the situation, adding that he will be heading to the EFCC office in Port Harcourt to facilitate the release of the young persons illegally arrested.
Comrade Unukoro advised all residents, especially youths to remain indoors and discontinue every act that could escalate the tensed atmosphere in the town.
