The peaceful community of Oteri-Ughell in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State was on Monday thrown into mourning as men of the Nigeria Police Force, Ughelli Area Command allegedly shot one and injured many protesting women over police extortion and incessant harassment in the area.
The protesting women in their hundreds staged the peaceful protest to the Area Command office but were rebuffed by the men and officers of the Command who used heavy teargas on the old women and shot one middle-aged woman in her left leg while others were beaten to spur.
Addressing journalists at the emergency ward of a general hospital, Ughelli, the president general of the community, Hon. Efe Erakpofoke Peter berated the action of the police saying that the women from the Oteri community were in peaceful protest to the palace of Ovie (monarch) of Ughelli kingdom and the area commander to register their grievances.
According to him, “The Area Commander called him to appeal to his people to go home that he would look into their complaints but before he looked police started shooting and teargassing the protesting women thereby shooting one in the leg and injuring many”.
While giving reason for the protest, he said the community noticed with worries that their people could no longer access their community neither come from the community as a result of several police extortions from motorists and cyclists plying the community.
“Once you come out of the community to Ughelli main town once it is 8pm 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 the police harassment and extortion on the 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, detailed them, and collected a huge amount of money from them without offence.
“The actions of the Nigeria Police in Ughelli contravene the police practice and are inhumane, our community is a peaceful community and law-abiding citizens, stop making life difficult for us, you are making life difficult for these poor and innocent citizens,” he appealed.
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 errand unlawfully and collected between one hundred and fifty thousand and two hundred thousand naira to bail them.
Earlier when contacted, ACP Adebayo told journalists that his office is looking into the complaints of the community with a view to sanction any erring police officer just as he disclosed that he disbanded a squad of hunters in the command.
