Policeman killed, others injured as youth clash with soldiers over burial food in Delta

By Ovasa Ogaga,

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Boboroku community in Jesse, Ethiope West local government area, Delta State was thrown into pandemonium last Saturday following the death of a plain cloth policeman who slumped and died during a clash between the community youth and a team of soldiers drafted from the 19 Battalion, Koko, to provide security at a burial ceremony.

The incident occurred during the burial reception in honor of a 111-years-old woman (name withheld) in the community, when the community youths attempted to hijack foods meant for guest having been settled by the children of the deceased.

One person was said to have been shot on the leg as others sustained various degrees of injuries in the scuffle that ensued while the windscreen and windows of at least five cars including one hilux belong to the soldiers was destroyed by the youths who went berserk over the incident.

The youths were said to have allegedly made attempts to disarm two soldiers whom had tried to restore peace during the sharing of food for guests at the ceremony, when one of the soldiers who had gone to restore peace was attacked with a stick and stones.

Sources from the community disclosed that the late policeman simply identified as Imomoh, was until his death, a resident of the community and was said to have tried to intervene during a rowdy session between the soldiers and the youths who were alleged to have wanted to collect food meant for guests present.

Giving details of the incident, a guest at the reception said: “The soldiers were called in to restore calm after the youths in the community tried to hijack food meant for guests at the reception.”

The guest, who gave his name as Paul Amodu, said: “Vexed by the presence of the soldiers, the youths turned their anger on them leading to fisticuffs amidst gunshots by the soldiers aimed at dispelling the youths during which Imomoh was said to have been hit by one of the soldiers after which he slumped and died.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State, DSP Andrew Aniamaka while confirming the incident described it as “very unfortunate.”

Another police source from the Sapele Police Area Command who spoke to us anonymously added, “The death of the policeman whom is a resident of the community, enraged the youths who went wild, attacking guest and destroying vehicles at the ceremony.

“The soldiers had to apply minimum force in trying to defend themselves by shooting into the air to scare the rampaging youths who were trying to disarm them leading to the shooting of one person on the leg.”

He noting that the community youth should he be held liable for the crisis and the unfortunate death of the policeman and the destruction of properties valued more than N30million.