Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have been implicated in the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old boy by name, Chinedu Abimbor, at a checkpoint in the Ekpoma area of Esan West Local Government Area, Edo state.
The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday at a police checkpoint in the University community.
According to eyewitnesses, Abimbor was driving a Mercedes Benz car when he failed to stop at the police checkpoint despite being flagged down by operatives. An eyewitness, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, stated that Abimbor’s refusal to stop apparently triggered one of the operatives, who immediately shot at the vehicle, killing Abimbor in the process.
The eyewitness further revealed that Abimbor’s brother, who was in the vehicle with him at the time, was immediately arrested and taken into custody. This development sparked widespread outrage among the youth in Ekpoma, who took to the streets on Thursday to demand justice for Abimbor’s killing.
The witness said “His brother who rode in the vehicle with him at the time was immediately arrested by the police and taken into custody.”
“This development prompted angry youths to take to the streets of Ekpoma on Thursday to demand justice for the slain 18-year-old,” he added
The protesters, who marched through the streets of Ekpoma, also stopped at the palace of the traditional ruler of Ekpoma, HRH Anthony Ehizogie Abumere II, to demand the immediate release of Abimbor’s brother from custody.
One Lucky Adaba, a spokesman for the protesters, said, “We went to the police station to inquire about what could have led to the killing, but the police teargassed us and started shooting.”
Adaba further alleged that “the police have developed a habit of harassing young men driving cars in Ekpoma”.
The protesters’ demands for justice and the release of Abimbor’s brother have sparked tensions in the community, with authorities urging residents to remain calm while investigations continue.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Command has launched a full investigation into the incident to determine the circumstances surrounding Abimbor’s death.
A statement issued by Moses Yamu, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, revealed that the incident involved a joint operation team of security forces and the occupants of an unregistered Mercedes-Benz, resulting in Abimbor’s death.
Yamu stated that in a bid to address this, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Command, Betty Otimenyin, has ordered immediate withdrawal of the three patrol teams implicated in the incident from operations. The Commissioner also expressed sympathy to the family and friends of the deceased and “called for calm from the general public, with the assurance that justice will be served in the end.”
As the investigation continues, authorities are urging residents of Ekpoma to remain calm and peaceful. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and demands for justice, with many calling for accountability from the police.
Join Our Social Media Channels:
WhatsApp: NaijaEyes
Facebook: NaijaEyes
Twitter: NaijaEyes
Instagram: NaijaEyes
TikTok: NaijaEyes
READ THE LATEST ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
