The Delta State Police Command has denied allegations that its operatives shot two persons to death in Ogwashi-Uku, insisting that the victims drowned after falling into an abandoned well during a chase operation.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Edafe Bright, the command described the incident as a “tragic accident” that occurred on Wednesday along the Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku road near Mega Chis.
According to the police, a joint patrol team comprising police operatives and personnel of the Nigeria Forestry and Security Service was on routine patrol when they spotted two men identified as Adama Augustine and another individual.
The command said the men allegedly fled on sighting the patrol team, prompting officers attached to the forest security outfit to pursue them.
The statement explained that Augustine reportedly jumped into an uncompleted building while attempting to escape, with one of the forest officers continuing the chase.
“Both Adama Augustine and the Forest officer fell into an abandoned open site well inside an uncompleted building site and drowned,” the police said.
The deceased forest officer was identified as Eze Ifeanyi.
Police authorities said the victims were rescued and rushed to Ogwashi General Hospital where doctors confirmed them dead.
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“Their bodies are now at the hospital morgue awaiting autopsy,” the statement added.
The command expressed condolences to the families of both deceased persons and sought to dismiss reports alleging that police operatives opened fire during the incident.
“We want to make it very clear: No shooting took place. Nobody was killed by the police,” the statement stressed.
The police further disclosed that an investigation had commenced into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, while urging residents of Ogwashi-Uku and other parts of Delta State to remain calm and disregard what it described as rumours surrounding the incident.
