In Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, a hunger protest that was once peaceful took a violent turn on Friday. This happened after Policemen stationed at the Otovwodo axis of the East-West road reportedly shot and wounded an unidentified protester.
The shooting incident led to protesters setting tyres on fire and hurling sachet water at local government officials. The situation caused a traffic standstill on the East-West Road, leaving travelers from Benin to Port Harcourt and other Eastern regions stranded for hours.
Upon the alleged police shooting, protesters, including market women, forcibly drove away the Chairman of Ughelli North LGA, Jaro Egbo, and his team when they appeared at the scene. Egbo narrowly evaded a lynching attempt by the enraged protesters and Otovwodo market women, who accused him of ordering his aides to disperse the protesters.
Contrary to the accusation, the press secretary to the Council Chairman, Efe Ekete, refuted the claims, stating that Egbo had actually come to plead with the protesters not to attack security forces.
An anonymous protester told reporters that they were unarmed, only holding placards, when the police unexpectedly confronted them and began firing tear gas. The protester alleged that as the police drove off, they shot at the protesters, resulting in one person being injured in the chest.
The wounded protester was swiftly taken to a hospital by security personnel. One human rights activist, known as Comrade Silver, blamed the police officers from ‘A’ Division, Ughelli, and Ughelli Police Area Command for apprehending and firing at the protesters.
Silver recounted, “I tried to dissuade the protesters from disrupting the Otovwodo market due to market day activities, warning of potential looting by thugs. I urged them to commence their protest from Agbarha-motor junction to Afiesere junction. Suddenly, within the market vicinity, I witnessed police officers chasing a vehicle, stopping its driver, and using tear gas on the occupants.”
He added, “As the market women and protesters resisted the arrest, the police resorted to teargas and live ammunition. Upon the DPO’s arrival, we headed to the station, and the individual was released, restoring calm.”
Sharing further information, Silver said, “I received news of a shooting incident, though I did not witness it myself. I was informed that the Army quickly transported the victim to the hospital.”
In response to inquiries, Bukar Dabo, the leader of the military personnel stationed at the Otovwodo junction, stated that he did not witness any police shooting, contrary to certain claims.