By Jethro Ibileke
An 18-year-old boy identified as Chinedu Abimbor, has reportedly been shot dead by some police operatives in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
It was gathered that the tragic incident occurred on Wednesday, at a police checkpoint in the University community.
An eyewitness who declined having his name in print, said the victim was driving in a Mercedes Benz car, but refused to stop at the police checkpoint when he was flagged down by operatives.
According to him, apparently angered by the victim’s refusal to stop one of the police operatives immediately shot at the vehicle, killing the victim in the process.
He said: “His brother who rode in the vehicle with him at the time was immediately arrested by the police and taken into custody.”
To this end, angry youths on Thursday took to the streets of Ekpoma to demand justice for the the teenager.
The protesters who also had a stopover at the palace of the palace of traditional ruler of Ekpoma, HRH Anthony Ehizogie Abumere II, demanded the immediate release of the victim’s brother from custody.
Spokesman for the protesters who identified himself as Lucky Adaba said: “We went to the police station to inquire on what would have possibly led to the killing, the police teargased us and started shooting.
“The police have formed the habit of harrasing young boys driving cars in Ekpoma.”
Meanwhile, a statement by the Command’s spokesman on Friday, CSP Moses Yamu, disclosed that the State Commissioner of Police, Betty Otimenyin, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident, with a view to ascertain what actually transpired.
He added that the CP who commiserated with family, friends of the deceased, “called for calm from the general public with assurance that justice will be served at the end.”
“The incident involved a security forces’ joint operation team and occupants of an unregistered Mercedes Benz which resulted in the death of one Chinedu Obimbor,” he said.
The statement added that the CP has directed the immediate withdrawal of the three patrol teams fingered in the incident from operations.
