- Firm petitions police, fingers vigilantes on his death
By Paul Michael, Defence
The Nigerian Army has denied being responsible for the killing of one Cyril Obruche from Ovre – Eku community in Delta state.
The Trumpet gathered that the said Obruche died as a result of a gunshot during a protest on 28th March 2022, by members of Eku community at the Presco Plc in Edo state. The Army was subsequently accused of being responsible for the killing.
A statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, described the news in some of the national dailies as falsehood orchestrated to present the Army in bad light.
The statement further stated that no soldier was deployed at Ovre – Eku community, adding that the unfortunate incident that led to the death of Cyril Obruche during the protest cannot be attributed to troops of the Nigerian Army.
“The Nigerian Army (NA) has been notified of a publication by Vanguard Newspapers, 30 March 2022, where it was alleged that NA troops deployed in Ovre – Eku community; a border town between Edo and Delta states shot and killed one Master Cyril Obruche. The unfortunate incident allegedly occurred during a protest at PRESCO Plc in the border community.
“For the records, considering the sanctity of human life and the enormity of the allegation, the NA formations under whose areas of responsibility the community fall conducted a discreet investigation that revealed that troops were not deployed to the said company, viz., PRESCO Plc. The media report is not only misleading but laced with falsehood orchestrated to present the NA in bad light.
“It is important to unequivocally state that no soldier was deployed at Ovre – Eku community, thus the unfortunate incident that led to the death of Master Cyril Obruche during the protest cannot be attributed to troops of the NA. It is also pertinent to reiterate that, the corpse of the deceased is not in the custody of the NA.
“While, the NA sincerely sympathizes with the family of the deceased and members of Ovre – Eku community, individuals or groups peddling this falsehood are please urged to get their records straight and desist from misinforming the public, thereby tarnishing the image and reputation of the NA.
“The NA remains resolute in its resolve to respect the fundamental rights of the citizenry and adhere to extant rules of engagement in internal security operations,”
Meanwhile, Presco Plc earlier petitioned the Edo State Police Command alleging an attack on the company’s investment and its personnel by vigilante group and persons from Eku Community in Delta State.
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The petition, which was signed by the Security Manager of Presco Plc, Ahmed Kabir, said the vigilante members were seen dangling pump action riffles and shooting sporadically into the air. Adding that it was not long before the lifeless body of Obruche was dumped at the entrance of Presco gate by the protesters.
The petition reads, “On the 28” of March 2022 at about 05:00hrs, some community persons and some security Vigilante group from Eku community barricaded the link road between Presco Pic and Eku Community preventing our workers from gaining access to their various working place in Presco.
“The resident Mobile police officers attached to the company quickly moved to the scene to see what the protest was about. However, before the policemen got to the scene of the protest, the number of the protesters has increased to about 1000 people, dangling and brandishing all sorts of weapons Some of the Vigilante security were seen carrying pump action riffles and shooting sporadically into the air and they advised the stranded workers to go back home while the policemen retreated to their duty post and continued to monitor the situation.
“About two hours later, the same protesters carried a young man with head injury to Presco gate and dumped the young man at the entrance of Presco gate who was believed to have died before they brought him to the gate. Later, the same protesters came back to the gate and demanded to take back the body of the young man. But at that junction, the matter was already reported to Igulaba Police Division in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo which was their jurisdiction where the body was dumped.
“The protesters became agitated and set fire on our trucks and a motorcycle and also destroyed the entrance gate of the company and some of the security men on duty were beaten and injured by the protesters.
“In view of the above, we have resolved to seek the assistance of your office and request that you take over the matter with a view to bringing all the parties together for the purpose of peace to prevent further breakdown of law and order.”
