Pandemonium has ensued in Delta community following alleged shooting of women in Oteri-Ughelli, Ughelli north local government area the state by the operatives of the Nigerian Police.
It was gathered the women were protesting alleged extortion and incessant harassment of members of the community by the police.
During the incident, a woman was reported to have been shot on the leg, while some were injured.
The protesting women were at the area command office.
Addressing journalists at the emergency ward of the General Hospital, Ughelli, the President General of the community, Hon. Efe Peter berated the action of the police, saying that the women from the Oteri community were on a peaceful protest to the palace of Ovie (monarch) of Ughelli kingdom and the area commander to register their grievances.
While giving the reason for the protest, he noted that the community noticed with worries that their people could no longer be free in their community as a result of several police extortions from motorists and cyclists plying the community.
He said, “The area commander called him (Ovie) to appeal to his people to go home, that he would look into their complaints but the police started shooting and tear-gassing the protesting women, thereby shooting one in the leg and injuring many.
”Once you come out of the community to Ughelli main town, once it is 8:00 pm, you cannot get motorcycles or tricycles to carry you because of the police extortion. Our mothers and women trek home from Ughelli main market every day because of police harassment and extortion of motorists.
‘’Recently, the police embarked on incessant arrest and vandalization of houses belonging to the youths of the community and carted away their personal belongings, detained them and collected a huge amount of money from them without any offence.
“The actions of Nigeria police in Ughelli contravened the police practice and are inhumane; our community is a peaceful community and we are law-abiding citizens.
“They should stop making life difficult for us, you are making life difficult for these poor and innocent citizens.”
Speaking to newsmen, representatives of the protesting women, Harvest Ugbhwiako and Mrs. Vivian Aphiare alleged that the police arrested and detained their children and wards who were on erand unlawfully and collected between N150,000 and N200,000 for their bail.
But, Bright Edafe, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Delta command, stated that nobody was shot during the protest
He, however that tear gas was rightly used to disperse the protesters.
