By Nyerhovwo Oghenetejiri
One of the victims, Mr Favour Ogbere allegedly shot and wounded by men of the Nigerian Police, Asaba in Ibrede, Ndokwa East Local Area of Delta State, in the early hours of last Thursday is dead.
Mr Favour Ogbere who was believed to have been shot on the waist area when Policemen from Delta State Headquarters, Asaba raided the community at about 4.30 am was said to have been taken to a private hospital earlier in Kwale and later rushed to another private hospital in Ughelli when his health situation became critical following the wound sustained from gunshots injuries.
When Journalists visited him on his sick bed where he was being attended to by doctors on ground were battling to save his life, late Favour Ogbere looked pale while gasping for breath and could hardly recognize anybody.
He was purportedly shot with three others who are also in their critical health conditions including, Ezekiel Ibere and Iwarioka Edhere by the police from Asaba when they swooped on the town at about 4.30 am.
It was gathered that Favour Ogbere was an usher at the St Andrew’s Catholic Church, Ibrede and that he was on his way to clean up the church in preparation for the early morning mass when he ran into the police who invaded the community and was fired.
Reports says that since the intra communal clash in April 30th, the police have frequently been paying visits to Ibrede and arresting any persons pointed to them by leaders of the other faction without investigation.
”Kwale prison is brimming with suspects, including the President -General of the community, Mr Finbarrs Onomerike and others, locked up at the instance of a faction since April 30 and without bail”.
The Police spokesperson in Delta, DSP Celestine Kalu, had however in a statement maintained that ”the police who swooped on the community in the course of their investigation into the April, 2014 arson were ambushed by some youth and they tactically withdrew without firing any shot”.
