From Ben Dunno, Warri
Ten indigenes of Ekiugbo community in Ughelli North Local Government area of Delta State, arrested in connection with the violent attack carried out on a police patrol team who were on a routine surveillance duty in the area are currently being detained at the Ughelli area Command.
Daily Sun investigations revealed that the aggrieved community youths who descended on the police team at about 8;15pm yesterday, stabbed at police Constabulary identified as, Kabba Mamudu, on the head and destroyed the police patrol vehicle alongside.
It was learnt that trouble started in the community when the police team sighted an unregistered Mercedes Benz, (White coloured 350 GLK) parked in an obscured location and was being surrounded by some boys who claimed they do not have any slightest idea of the owner of the vehicle and how it got to where it was parked.
The police suspicion arose when the the boys numbering four could not properly identified themselves and one of them who identified himself as Jeffery was holding a car key with him and when they insisted he open the car for a search, considering the rising cases of kidnapping in the area, he vehemently refused.
It was at the point that the youths began to show some resistance that the vehicle would neither be opened nor taken away from the spot, stating that it was not police business to probe a parked unregistered vehicle all because they were standing close to the vehicle.
Further efforts made by the police to have access to the unregistered car, led to the patrol vehicle being double crossed by another car driven by one of the suspect later identified as Edirin, who also stopped his ground that the car would not move from the location.
However with a superior show of force and professionalism as no one was attacked or injured, the police team were able to over power Edirin alongside five other suspects who were his accomplices arrested and taken to the Area Command for further interrogations.
It was gathered that after briefing the Area Commander, ACP Ademola Adebayo, he insisted parked unregistered GLK Mercedes Benz be brought into police custody as well for proper search and safe keeping in course of the investigations.
“It was when the men returned to pick up the parked vehicle that the community youths led by its Chairman, identified as Mamuvwoyi Ikpera, launched the violent attacks on policemen team, stabbing the the Police Constabulary on the head and damaging the patrol vehicle”, the source hinted.
A visit to the Ughelli Area Command, yesterday saw the beef up of security around the Command’s vicinity, as the youths were said to have commenced protest in the town over the arrest of some Ekiugbo community indigenes by the police.
Our Correspondent also learnt by that the Area Commander, ACP Adebayo had been in a closed door meeting with the delegation of some community leaders sent by the Ughelli monarch, Ovie Oharisi III, who was worried over the escalation of the youth protest as it may be hijacked by criminals.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that the police hierarchy at the Delta state police Command have taken strong exceptions to the attack of policemen by community youths in any part of the state for whatever reason that maybe.
It warned both the traditional rulers and community leaders, especially youth leaders to put an end to the senseless attacks on policemen who are carrying out their legitimate duties of protecting lives and property of residents.