Protest Erupts in Rivers Community As Police Officer Shoots Man Dead

By Miracle Ogunde

The extra-judicial killing of a youth by a police officer has sparked protest in the Omagwa community, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

As reported by Channels TV, the incident occurred when the policeman attached to the Omagwa Division of the Rivers State Police Command, shot and killed Chikuma Egbule, a native of the community.

This sparked instant protests in the community which is also a host community for the Port Harcourt International Airport.

The protesters initially carried the body of the slain youth to the Omagwa Divisional Police station where they intended to deposit it.

They, were, however, resisted and repelled by the policemen on the ground.

They then blocked the road in protest, causing gridlock on the busy highway which leads to the airport, and Owerri in Imo state.

When contacted the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said that the trigger-happy cop had been arrested while the body of the deceased had been deposited at the morgue.

“The command is aware, and the CP is on top of the situation. Normalcy has now been restored, and adequate security is present on the ground to prevent any breach of peace,” she said in a WhatsApp message.

“The corpse has been deposited at the morgue while the police officers have been detained while an investigation is ongoing.”