The Omagwa community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State was thrown into turmoil following the alleged extra-judicial killing of a young man by a police officer.
According to Channels TV, the incident occurred when a policeman attached to the Omagwa Division of the Rivers State Police Command shot and killed Chikuma Egbule, a native of the community.
Outraged by the killing, residents staged a protest, carrying the victim’s body to the Omagwa Divisional Police Station in an attempt to deposit it there. However, they were stopped and dispersed by officers on duty.
Undeterred, the protesters blocked the highway leading to the Port Harcourt International Airport and Owerri, causing significant traffic gridlock.
Reacting to the incident, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed that the officer responsible had been arrested.
“The command is aware, and the Commissioner of Police is handling the situation. Normalcy has been restored, and security operatives are on the ground to maintain peace,” she stated via a WhatsApp message.
She further disclosed that the deceased’s body had been deposited at the morgue, while the detained officer is currently under investigation.