On Friday, September 24, a police officer in Delta state allegedly killed an unidentified young man who was celebrating his 29th birthday with friends and relatives in Obinomba town, Ukwuani Local Government Area of the state.
According to accounts, a squad of police officers from Obiaruku divisional headquarters attacked the venue in search of fleeing cultists who had previously slain a young man in Obiaruku.
When the celebrant noticed the security officers, he came out to expla in that it was his party and that others present were his wellwishers.
“It was like the police came to raid the bar where he was having his birthday. The boy came out to tell the police that he was having his birthday, that they were not fighting, and that the people were there to celebrate him.
“But one of the officers ran back and cocked his gun trying to harass the boy. The deceased attempted to run. But the officer aimed at his leg.” an eyewitness said
The celebrant reportedly passed out right away and was brought to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
DSP Bright Edafe, a spokeswoman for the state police command, confirmed the occurrence and stated that the officer who shot the deceased acted in self-defense.
” It was done in self-defence and I am going to explain what I mean by that. At a few minutes past 9pm on Friday, the Divisional Police Officer of Obiaruku Division got information that there was a cult clash in Obinomba Village, Ukwani LGA, and that boys from a rival cult group had shot a man dead.
They (the police) went there and saw the man in a pool of blood and carried him in their van. On their way to the hospital, they saw some boys, numbering about 50 who gathered outside. One of the inspectors alighted and asked them what the problem was. The boys, in their usual manner, accosted the police inspector who was bearing an AK-47 rifle and they gagged him, trying to dispossess him of his arms. The men who were with him fired and one of the bullets got to a young man in his laps and others fled.
The police took both the man who was shot during a cult clash and the injured man to a hospital, but unfortunately both of them were confirmed dead by the doctors on duty.”Edafe said
Source; Ghgossip.com
