By Florence James
WARRI/Nigeria: The Coronavirus Pandemic had in a way claimed its first victim in Delta state through the Lockdowm declared by the Delta State Government, when it declared April 1, 2020 as the commencement day for restriction of movement in the state to check the spread of the dreaded virus disease into the state.
The victim, a 28 years Joseph Pesu was shot dead by soldiers who was at popular check point to the entrance of Ekpan, near Warri, who pursued him to another local government, Warri South, about 8km from the initial point of contact with the soldiers.
According Ndokwa Reporters investigation, the victim was pursued by thy soldiers when he failed to stop to properly identify himself, but rather zoomed of with his power bike machine, which it learnt was deflated by gunshot from the pursuing soldiers.
However, the incident got worst when the late Mr. Pesu, after a long ride to another community of Ugbuwangwe, decided to run, but was shot from behind by one of the soldiers. Our investigation further revealed that, for the timely intervention of the Area Commander of the Warri Area Command of the Nigeria Police, the situation would had been worst.
Meanwhile, Itsekiri National Youths Council (INYC) has demanded for justice for the gruesome killing of one of his members, Mr Joseph Pessu by men of the Nigerian Army at Ada Val Arenyenka Street, Ugbuwangue earlier this morning in Warri.
The group in a press statement signed by its President Comrade Weyinmi Agbateyiniro, and the Secretary-General, Comrade Appearance Afejuku, condemned the murder of the victim calling on the relevant government agencies to fish out the kill and be prosecuted. The statement read in part: “The Council gathered that Late Mr Joseph Pessu, a law-abiding citizen and committed member of the INYC was racing through NPA Express Way to go pick his sick father to the hospital when men of the Nigerian Army flagged him down. Before he could apply his breaks, one of his tyres was deflated.
He managed to negotiate into the nearby Ada Val Arenyenka Street. As he alighted from his car to query why he was shot at, one of the gun-wielding officers shot him at close range. Mr Joseph died on the spot.
“The INYC is using this medium to call on the Delta State Government and the Nigerian Army to fish out the recalcitrant and bloodthirsty Army officer who used the excuse of the COVID 19 Lockdown enforcement to murder a defenceless citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “The INYC queries the deployment of men of the Nigerian Army to enforce a Lockdown against a virus that is yet to claim any life in Warri and Delta State but instead it is the bullet of the Nigerian Army Officer that has claimed a precious life.
“We demand justice for the late Joseph Pessu. We want the murderous officer to be apprehended and punished according to the dictates of the law. Otherwise, we may not be able to manage the events that will happen hereinafter especially in this period of lockdown.”
