By Onome Oghenetega
There was pandemonium on Thursday morning at the Ogunu flyover bridge in Warri when a soldier reportedly killed a man for refusing to stop for a check during the ongoing COVID-19 sit-at-home order in Delta State.
The deceased, Joseph Pessu, was said to be driving towards the Warri NPA from Ubeji when soldiers enforcing the lockdown directive flagged him down for check and identification but declined to stop.
It was learnt that the military men chased the victim to Ugbuwangue near Ogunu flyover area where he jumped from the unnumbered Toyota Camry after using his vehicle to block the road to prevent military men from arresting him.
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The victim who ran into a compound along Val Aroyinka Street in the area was, however, shot by one of the soldiers who were chasing him.
He reportedly died on the spot, our correspondent gathered.
“The manner the he (Joseph Pessu) drove gave the suspicion that he was an armed robber because he was stopped at Ubeji where he ran into military check point”, a security source told NIGER DELTA TODAY Online.
The soldier who killed the suspect reportedly reported himself to police where he is being detained at the Warri Area Command of the Delta State Police Command.
Following the killing, some youths from Ugbuwangue mobilized to the scene for reprisal but the situation was immediately nipped on the bud following the deployment more security personnel led by the Warri Police Area Commander
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A senior military source in the state confirmed the incident but said the incident was already being investigated by the military command.
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed the incident to NIGER DELTA TODAY Online.
She said she was yet to be briefed with details of the incident.
