A peaceful protest in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, escalated yesterday when police officers stationed at the Otovwodo area of the East-West Road reportedly shot and injured a dispatcher.
According to Vanguard, Kester Eloho Ben, a man in his 20s, was heading to Uwheru community to deliver a herbal drug when the shooting took place.
The incident triggered a strong reaction from the protesters, who responded by setting tires on fire and throwing sachets of water at the police.
Speaking to newsmen at his hospital bed, Kester said, “I was on my way to Uwheru community to deliver an item and while I was waiting for either motorcycle or tricycle when I suddenly felt a strange object in my left arm.
“I was about to board a bike when I felt something strange on my left hand and my phone fell of my hand, as I was about to pick up the phone I noticed that my hand was shaking.
“It was a stray bullet from the police that hit me and it was an Okada man that rushed me to the hospital when the police never showed concern.”
“I was not among the protesters, I was only going to deliver an item to a customer when I was shot and the medical team attended to me immediately I was brought in.”
A protester who spoke to Vanguard said, “They were protesting this morning with placards towards the Otovwodo junction and the police bracket them from coming towards the junction.
“They were not carrying anything dangerous except for the placards in their hands when the police double cross them and started shooting tear gas.”
“While shooting tear gas, the police were being pelted with sachets of water by the protesters and as they were driving away, they opened fire on the protesters and one person was hit on his chest.
“Their sister security agents helped to rush the injured protester to one of the hospitals probably for the hospital to accept him since it was a bullet injury.The anonymous source alleged.
A Human rights activist who identified himself as Comrade Silver said, “This morning we were here and it was very peaceful as were pleading with the protesters to calm down.
“We made them to understand that today being Otovwodo market day, some hoodlums might use the opportunity of their protest to loot items of the marketers.
“We told them to go towards Agbarha junction to start their protest and they obeyed and as I was sitting down at the market,I saw a police van chasing a format car, they blocked the car and threw a tear gas inside the vehicle.
“As they were about to take the boy away, I pleaded with the police and the boy was released to me as the boys were about to leave, another police vehicle came and insisted that the boy must be arrested.
“It was at that moment the market women began to pelt them with water and stones and the police started shooting tear gas and live bullets in that place and in that process, they took the boy to the police station.
“When the DPO came, I approached him and we both went to the station and the boy was released and peace returned.
“I learned they shot a person, though I did not see him, but I was told that the Army rushed him to the hospital, I do not know the name of the hospital they took him to but all I know was that there were gunshots.”