UBEJI/Nigeria: Tension engulfed Ubeji community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State on Wednesday as irate youths staged a protest over the death of a young man who reportedly drowned while being pursued by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, when the yet-to-be-identified suspect, allegedly fleeing from police officers, ran toward a nearby river in a bid to evade arrest but reportedly slipped into the water and drowned.
The development sparked outrage among residents, particularly youths, who accused the police of excessive force and negligence, triggering protests that quickly escalated into violence.
During the unrest, the Ubeji Police Post was vandalised and set ablaze by angry demonstrators, while others flooded the streets chanting and demanding justice for the deceased.
Some protesters insisted that the circumstances surrounding the young man’s death must be thoroughly investigated, expressing frustration over what they described as recurring harassment and high-handedness by security operatives in the area.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the tragedy could have been avoided if the officers had exercised restraint. “Now a life has been lost, and the community is in chaos,” he lamented.
As of the time of filing this report, security presence had been reinforced in the area to prevent further breakdown of law and order, with operatives maintaining vigilance across key points.
Efforts to obtain an official response from police authorities were unsuccessful, though sources indicated that an internal inquiry into the incident may be initiated.
Meanwhile, community leaders have called for calm, urging residents to refrain from further violence while demanding a transparent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the young man’s death.
