Tension in Onitsha as clash between police, youths leaves one dead

There was pandemonium in Onitsha on Tuesday as a clash between police and youths led to the death of one person with several others fatally injured.

According to sources, trouble began when some youths attempted to disarm a police officer at the new Aba park, Owerri road.

The Police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, while confirming the incident, said several people were injured with one person dead. He added that the injured people were currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Onitsha.

“There was attempt by some miscreants to disarm police at the new Aba park owerri road when police patrol team went on enquiry following intelligence report that two armed robbery suspects who escaped from lawful custody were seen hiding at the park.

“The hoodlums who emerged from an uncompleted building near the park descended on the policemen in a bid to overpower them and snatched their rifles.

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“One of the policemen resorted to use his firearm and injured one of the attackers whose identity is yet to be ascertained after firing twice on air to scare them proved abortive”, the police image maker said.

Mohammed added, “Victim was rushed to Toronto hospital for medical attention but was certified dead by a medical doctor while receiving treatment.

“Following the incident, rampaging Youths blocked Onitsha/Owerri road causing serious public nuisance and traffic congestions in the area.

He said joint police patrol teams including vigilante groups dispersed the rampaging youths ,restored normalcy and cleared the road to enable free flow of traffic in the affected area.

“Seven persons sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at multi choice hospital Onitsha,” Mohammed stated.

According to him, Commissioner of Police, John Abang, had ordered investigation into the matter to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident in order to bring perpetrators to justice.

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