Youths’ Protest Claims One Life In PH …Police Arrest 15 Suspects

A 26-year-old man identified as Aleruchi Woke was reportedly killed during a peaceful protest by youths of Nkpolu community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State over the poor state of the East-West Road which runs through their community as well as persistent floods during the rainy season.
The youths were said to have embarked on the protest to draw the attention of the federal and state governments to their plight, especially as the floods have sacked many residents and crippled business activities in the area.
It was gathered that the peaceful protest rose to a fever pitch when a pregnant woman under labour who was being rushed to the hospital got stuck because of the flood situation and reportedly died over delay in accessing the road to her destination.
While the protest continued, the youths later barricaded the East-West Road to press home their demand for attention to their sufferings, until some security operatives on escort duty arrived the scene leading to a heated argument.
Meanwhile, the Obio/Akpo Local Government Chairman, Solomom Eke who arrived the scene also addressed the youths and assured them that government was looking into their complaints and tried to calm them, even as he warned against a breach of public peace.
But a section of the youths were already involved in an argument with the security operatives, as the latter shot in the air to disperse the crowd and pave the way for them to continue their journey, but unfortunately, one of the bullets hit the youth who later died, while four others were injured in the melee.
The situation got messier leading to the torching of trucks and buildings before the police arrived to calm the situation, while no fewer than 15 persons were arrested for their alleged involvement in the protest.
Conforming the arrest to newsmen, spokesman of the Rivers State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni said the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Zaki Ahmed has ordered an inquiry into what led to the barricade of the East-West Road and burning of trucks and buildings around the Nkpolu axis.
Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) however said information available to the police did not indicate that anyone was shot dead during the fracas, but said confirmed that the Nkpolu youths may have been angry over the alleged death of a pregnant woman who died due to delay in accessing the road while being taken to the hospital.
The State Police image maker said, “We managed tactically to restore normalcy and were able to dismantle the barriers and allow for free flow of traffic in an operation led by the Area Commander and our men have remained there to ensure that there was no further carnage by the youths.
“So far, 15 persons have been arrested and are helping us in our investigation. The Commissioner of Police has ordered investigation into the matter and I do know that at the end of the day those found complicit would be dealt with according to the law.
“Blocking the road is not the solution to their problem. They said they were taking a pregnant woman who was in lablour to the hospital. But we know the nature of the road that was flooded, so, their car was stuck and because of the delay the woman eventually died. So that may have aggravated their anger,” Omoni said.
But the youths in Nkpolu are accusing the Nigerian Police of instigating the action that led to the death of one of the youths during Monday’s protest.
One of the eyewitnesses said the deceased (Woke) who was hit by a stray bullet was allegedly shot by a policeman, describing the action of the police as an impunity of the highest order even as he condemn the manhandling of the youths who were on a peaceful protest.
Youth President of Nkpolu community, Ezekial Bobby who spoke to newsmen condemn the use of live ammunition by the police during the protest, saying the youths were only on a peaceful protest to draw the attention of the government to the bad state of the road and other challenges facing the community.
“The Local Government Chairman was addressing us. Our youths were saying he is with the Chairman, why are you shooting. They started throwing tables, stoning us and all of a sudden they (police) started shooting directly and shot one of the youths on the stomach and other were injured.
“We have been crying for years now. The State and the federal Government are aware of the challenges of Nkpolu. We just decided to do a very peaceful protest at the junction. I mean you cannot be asking for something and you go there to fight. We were very peaceful until the local government chairman came.
He further said, “Justice must be done. So, we are calling on meaningful Nigerians to look into our plight. Is it that Nigerians can no longer protest peacefully?