Delta Community, Police Command Trade Blames Over Death Of 2 Protesters

The leadership of the Edjekota-Ogor community, Ogor Kingdom in Ughelii north local government area of Delta State, has indicted the Nigeria police and local hunters for the killing of Mr Amakashi Martins from the Edjekota community and Mr Victor Akpojarho from the Ewu community.

While the community said the killings of members of both Edjekota and Ewu communities were unlawful actions of police officers and vigilantes, the Ughelli Area Command said it was a communal conflict.

Recall that during a protest recently, police and vigilante members were said to have opened fire on the protesters at Edjekota community, where Mr Martins and Victor lost their lives.

But the president general of the Edjekota community, Pastor Oghenemakpor Uyo, said the police fabricated communal conflict only served to obscure the truth and divert attention from the real issue.

He condemned the unlawful arrests, brutality, and senseless killings by police officers under the supervision of Ughelli Area Police Command just as he demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all Edjekota community members detained by Delta State Police in her custody.

Uyo, who said the community noticed with dismay the police’s unprofessional act, called on the Delta State government and IGP to establish a commission of Inquiry to investigate the actions of the police officers and vigilantes and unravel the truth of the issue at hand.

According to him, the Edjekota-Ogor and the Ewu-Urhobo communities have been living together peacefully, and there is no crisis between them.

“There is no crisis between Edjekota and Ewu communities. A land dispute exists between a family in the Edjekota community and a family in the Ewu community, a matter currently being addressed through the appropriate legal channels at the Ughelli South local government area Customary Court in Edjophe.

“The arrested members of our community were then clandestinely and peacefully transported to the Ughelli Area Command without the knowledge or consent of the Edjekota Community leadership.

“We, the people of the Djekota community, unequivocally reject the actions of the police officers under the Ughelli Area Command and the attempts to criminalise our peaceful protest.

“Who gave the order for Mr Robinson, other police officers, and vigilantes to open fire on peaceful protesters in Edjekota, leading to the tragic loss of life and severe injuries?”

SP Bright Edge, police public relations officer (PPRO), said those arrested are being investigated.