Covid-19: As Anger Rises Over Alleged Killing of Warri Youth by Soldier, Leaders Urge Calm

By John Oghojafor (The New Diplomat’s South-South Bureau Chief)

The enforcement of the stay-at-home order given by the Delta State government on Thursday April 1, reportedly claimed its first victim in Warri when the military who were part of the security team mandated to enforce the order had one of its men shooting to death a youth in Warri.

The Delta State government had declared a total lockdown in the State on Thursday and drafted a combined team of security personnel to enforce the order across the state. Our correspondent however gathered that while mounting a road block in Ugbuwangue, a suburb in Warri South LGA, a youth known as Joseph Pessu, in a Toyota Camry, drove through the blockade defying the army order for a stop and check.

In attempt to escape arrest, the youth was shot at a close range by an army officer resulting in his death instantly.

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It was gathered that after the incident, the army officer reported himself to the Police Area Command in Warri where he has been detained.

Reacting to the incident, the Delta State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa regretted the killing, adding that a thorough investigation into the incident will be instituted, with a view to bringing the culprit to book. Speaking on behalf of the governor, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, said the state government was worried about the killing and has requested the military authorities to investigate it.

He however said the state government had sent a delegation to the family of the deceased to condole with them over the loss of their son, urging Deltans to be calm and cooperate with the security agents to enforce the stay-at-home order.

Also  while reacting to the incident earlier, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege who is from the State, condemned the gruesome killing of the youth by an army officer, describing the act as an extra-judicial killing. He assured that a thorough investigation would be carried out to bring the culprit to book.

The Deputy President of the Senate in  statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Yomi Odunuga, also called for the arrest and prosecution of the culprit (s) to serve as deterrent to others.

Omo-Agege, who  said he has spoken directly with the Army and Police authorities in the state, called on all citizens of the state to desist from taking the laws into their hands as being reported in some quarters.  He said he has tasked the authorities to fish out those responsible and punish them in accordance with the laws of the land.

According to him, “even if the deceased had flouted the order of the state government to stay at home, the best approach was to apprehend and hand him over to the police for prosecution.”

Also reacting to the incident, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Mr. Festus Keyamo, vowed to lodge a petition over the killing in Warri, Delta State on Thursday of  Joseph Pessu, allegedly by men of the armed forces enforcing the lockdown in the area.The minister in a statement condemned the killing, describing the action of the security men as high-handed and unwarranted.

The minister however called for restraint from Deltans, saying that the lockdown was for the good of all. He said: “I have received the disturbing reports and images of the high-handedness and shooting of an innocent citizen by men of the armed forces deployed to enforce the COVID-19 lockdown in my State, Delta State.

“I unreservedly condemn this barbaric act by men of the armed forces who should exercise restraint when dealing with the civilian populace. I will be forwarding a petition to the relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate this murder and bring the officer(s) to book. In the interim, let us not take the laws into our hands, please.”