Some enraged youths have taken over the Affor-Ntueke road in Imo State’s Ideato-South Local Government Area to protest the purported shooting of a young man named Emeka Dike by a police DPO.
The youths are seeking justice for Dike, an only son and father of four who was allegedly shot at Emma Ocha’s beer parlour in Uruala, Ideato-North, Imo State.
According to the youths, the victim was transported to the hospital after being shot in the shoulder by Chris Ikemere, the DPO of the Ideato-North division and an Indegene of Isiekenesi in the Ideato-South council area.
According to Mr.Ifeanyi Obiekwe, the Central Youth President of Ntueke, who spoke on behalf of the protesters, Dike, a man in his forties, was shot on Wednesday, April 20, approximately 7:45 p.m.
The protesting youths who blocked the roads, preventing vehicles from passing, also held banners with various slogans appealing for Dike’s justice.
According to Obiekwe, the enraged demonstrators are also pleading with appropriate authorities to bring the perpetrator to justice.
Narrating the incident, Obiekwe said,” Both the police and his victim were in a bar parlour, where they came to have some evening comfort and relax, when DPO arrived, there was a face-off between the two.
He revealed that sequel to the face-off, he branded the young men members of ESN! As he contacted his office and requested their help in coming to get rid of the bad boys in the bar.
According to him, “The trigger happy police officers could not exercise patience! As the young boys were demanding that he packed his jeep properly, he reached out for his raffle and shot one of them. And drove off immediately and took refuge at the police divisional command, very close to the scene of the event”
The youth President said if not for the prompt and mature intervention of the Area Commander of Ideato Police Area Command, who rushed the young man to the hospital and ensured that he received proper treatment, he would have been dead by now.
The spokesman of the State Police Command, Michael Abattam while confirming the incident during a call said the matter is under investigation.