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Tension gripped the Ubeji community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State on Wednesday as angry youths staged a protest over the death of a young man who reportedly died while being pursued by operatives of the Nigeria Police.
Eyewitnesses told reporters that the incident occurred on Tuesday, 31st of March when the unidentified suspect, allegedly fleeing from police officers, ran towards a nearby river in a bid to escape arrest. In the process, he reportedly slipped into the water and drowned.
The development sparked outrage among residents, particularly youth, who accused the police of excessive force and negligence. The protest quickly escalated, leading to the destruction of the Ubeji Police Post.
Some protesters were seen chanting and demanding justice for the deceased, insisting that the circumstances surrounding his death must be thoroughly investigated. Others expressed frustration over what they described as repeated cases of harassment by security operatives in the area.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the situation could have been avoided if the officers had exercised restraint. “Now a life has been lost, and the community is in chaos,” he lamented.
As of the time of filing this report, security presence in the area had been reinforced to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
Efforts to get an official response from the police authorities were unsuccessful, but sources indicated that an internal inquiry into the incident may be initiated.
Meanwhile, community leaders have called for calm, urging residents to refrain from further violence while demanding a transparent investigation into the circumstances that led to the young man’s death.
