2 Die As Community Youths Clash With Police In Anambra

Two persons were allegedly killed in Nteje, Oyi local government area of Anambra State in an exceeding clash involving policemen and youths of the community.

It was gathered that the clash was caused by the death of a commercial motorcyclist, who was said to have been killed after he tried to    flee arrest with his bike, however, bumped into a moving vehicle.

The community youths, who crust the police for the death of the motorcyclist, mobilised and attacked the Nteje police headquarters, threatening to dismantle it down.

In an attempt to repel the youths, the police were said to have called for reinforcement from men of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad, FSARS from Awkuzu, causing shootout, which sparked a protest in the area.

The situation was brought under control last night.

The irate youths, however, resumed their protest Wednesday morning, barricading the federal highway, causing a huge traffic on the road.

A source from the area told newsmen that, “A young man who was riding a motorcycle in the night was evading arrest when he was hit by the police and he lost control and died while another was gunned down during the protest.

“Human and vehicular movements were paralysed for over three hours on the Onitsha-Express way when the youths blocked the road in protest, and in a bid to scare the youths, the police started shooting and in the process, a youth was caught by bullets, making it the second person that died.”

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Haruna Mohammed, who confirmed the unrest in the community, however, denied that two persons were killed.

He said the motorcyclist was not killed by the police; rather he was trying to escape arrest when he ran into a moving vehicle but was rushed to the hospital, where he was confirmed dead.

“You know, there is state law prohibiting riding of motorcycles as from 7 pm in the state. So, the young man on sighting policemen in the night, and in the process to escape arrest, he rammed into an oncoming vehicle and got wounded.

“When he was taken to a hospital, he was confirmed dead. The youths in the area mobilised that night and moved to the Nteje police station, accusing the police of killing their kinsman.

“But the police were quick to mobilise and quelled the protest. This morning again (Wednesday), they mobilised again and attacked the police for the same reason; but the police were able to quell the situation.

“We have arrested some people in connection with the crisis, and we are still investigating. I cannot tell you the number of people that have been arrested because our men are still investigating. I assure you that only one person died, and he was not killed by the police,” he said.