…youths protest against ‘extrajudicial killing’
Odahiekwu Ogunde, Yenagoa
A yet-to-be-identified youth from Ovom, a community near the Bayelsa State Government House, Yenagoa, whom the police described as a suspected robber, has died in an attempt to ‘escape’ police arrest.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Command, Asinim Butswat said in a statement on Friday that the suspect, an alleged member of a gang of android phone robbers, had allegedly climbed the ceiling of a house on sighting the police.
He added that the suspect allegedly jumped out of the ceiling and injured his neck in the process.
The police spokesman said the suspect was taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, where a doctor certified him dead.
Giving insight into how the police went for the deceased’s arrest, Butswat said on Thursday, March 18, 2021, some suspects: ThankGod Edwin, Emomotimi Ebiye and James Ebala were apprehended by some members of Hausa community at Yenezue-gene, Yenagoa, where they came to dispose three android phones robbed at gunpoint.
He said the suspects were subsequently handed over to the police for investigation.
Butswat said: “Upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to have robbed the phones from the owners at gunpoint. They led police operatives to their hideout at Ovom, Yenagoa to recover the guns used in the operation.
“On sighting the policemen, one of the suspects climbed the ceiling and jumped out in a bid to escape. He subsequently got injured on the neck. He was taken to Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, where he was certified dead by a doctor.
“A locally-made pistol was recovered in the ceiling of the building. The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.”
Butswat, a Superintendent of Police, said the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Mike Okoli, had appealed for calm and had ordered a full scale Investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of the suspect.
It was learnt that the death of the suspect had sparked protests against the police as youths from the deceased’s community accused the police of extrajudicial killing.
Some angry youths reportedly blocked the major Mbiama-Yenagoa road at Ovom area causing terrible traffic jam.