A man was killed in Warri, Delta State on Thursday, allegedly by soldiers trying to enforce the lockdown order in place in most parts of the country, aimed at preventing the spread of the deadly Coronavirus.
Mr Joseph Pessu, a member of the Itshekiri National Youths Council (INYC), was allegedly shot dead by men of the Nigerian Army at Ada Val Arenyenka Street, Ugbuwangue, Warri.
A statement by INYC President, Comrade Weyinmi Agbateyiniro and Secretary, Comrade Appearance Afejuku, said Mr Pessu was killed while racing to pick his sick father from where he was to the hospital.
The statement titled, BLACK COVID 19 LOCKDOWN: INYC DEMANDS JUSTICE FOR THE MURDER OF MR. JOSEPH PESSU, reads:
“The attention of the Itsekiri National Youths Council (INYC) and its President Comr. Weyinmi Agbateyiniro, have been drawn to the gruesome killing of one of his members by men of the Nigerian Army at Ada Val Arenyenka Street, Ugbuwangue earlier this morning in Warri.
“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 his car to query why he was shot at, one of the gun wielding officer 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 blood thirsty Army officer who used the excuse of the Covid 19 Lockdown enforcement to murder a defenseless 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 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.”
Following public outcry against what is now apparently, excessive use of force on civilians, by law enforcement agents trying to enforce the lockdown order, the Nigerian Human Rights Commission recently advised Nigerians to document such violations of their rights and forward same to the commission for appropriate actions.
Some lives will be lost , not because of Covid 19 but because of the men in uniform