UGHELLI PROTEST: Nobody was shot – Delta Police

By ABIRHIRE THOMAS, Asaba

Delta State Police Command has refuted a story that nobody was shot during a protest at Ughelli in the state.

According to the police, the protesters rather than any of the being shot, againsg the report, were justifiably dispersed with tear gas.

A statement by the command’s spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, said, “The Command is aware of an allegedly sponsored protest from Oteri community in Ughelli North LGA on 6/5/2024 and wishes to debunk the false narratives currently being circulated on some sections of the media that Policemen shot at peaceful protesters.

“The Command wishes to state that nobody was shot during the protest, however, the use of tear gas was rightly used to disperse the protesters. For the avoidance of doubt and to put the record straight, the Command wishes to state as follows;

“On 6th May 2024, at about 1130 hours, some members of Oteri community, Ughelli approached the Area Commander Ughelli and requested that Policemen be withdrawn from the express road.

“The Area commander declined and informed them that the deployment was in compliance with the directive of the Commissioner of Police CP Abaniwonda Olufemi on the need to ensure police presence in that area to prevent kidnapping and other crimes.

“Surprisingly, women from the community in their numbers forcefully stormed the Area command premises in a violent protest, beating up a policeman in the process, and they were dispersed with the use of tear gas.

“The report making rounds that Policemen shot at peaceful protesters is false and should be completely disregarded,” the statement said.

In the meantime, the Commissioner of Police Delta State, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, has sued for calm and reiterates that the Command will not succumb to pressure from any quarters because, he said, the adequate protection of life and property is the constitutional mandate of the Police and remains the priority of the Command.