Tension enveloped the Oteri-Ughelli Community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State after the police allegedly shot a protesting woman.
IVNTV NEWS learnt that a woman was shot on the leg, while some were sustained injures during a protest. The women were allegedly protesting the extortion and incessant harassment of members of the community by the police.
According to a report, the angry women had stormed the Police Command Headquarters to register their grievances against the untoward behaviour of the police in the area.
Addressing journalists at the emergency ward of the General Hospital, Ughelli where the woman was admitted, the President General of the community, Hon. Efe Peter berated the action of the police. He stated that the women from the Oteri Community were on a peaceful protest to the palace of Ovie (monarch) of Ughelli kingdom and the Area Commander to register their grievances.
Peter expressed worries that the people of the community could no longer walk freely in their community. He said this is because of several police extortions from motorists and cyclists plying the roads in the Community.
“The Area Commander called him (Ovie) to appeal to his people to go home, that he would look into their complaints. But the police started shooting and tear-gassing the protesting women. And, thereby, shot one of the women on the leg and injuring many.
“Once you come out of the Community to Ughelli main town, once it is 8:00 pm, you cannot get motorcycles. Or tricycles to carry you because of the police extortion. Our mothers and women trek home from Ughelli main market every day because of police harassment and extortion of motorists.
‘”Recently, the police embarked on incessant arrest and vandalization of houses belonging to the youths of the community. They carted away their personal belongings, detained them and collected a huge amount of money from them without any offence.
“The actions of Nigeria police in Ughelli contravened the police practice and are inhumane. Our Community is a peaceful community and we are law-abiding citizens.
“They should stop making life difficult for us. You are making life difficult for these poor and innocent citizens.”
Addressing newsmen, the representatives of the protesting women, Harvest Ugbhwiako and Mrs. Vivian Aphiare collaborated Peter’s assertions. They alleged that the police unlawfully arrested and detained their children and wards who were on errands. The police, the women said, collected between N150,000 and N200,000 for their bail.
But the Police Public Relations Officer, Delta Command, PPRO, Bright Edafe, denied the report. He stated that nobody was shot during the protest.
Edafe, however, admitted that tear gas was rightly used to disperse the protesters.
source: Daily Post
