The burial reception in honour of a 111-year-old woman in Boboroku community in Delta state, reportedly turned into a food fight and reportedly left a policeman identified as Imomoh dead.
Eyewitnesses claimed that the clash between youths of the community and a team of soldiers deployed to maintain peace at the event, occurred after the youths tried to disarm two soldiers, who had tried to restore orderliness in the area which became chaotic as foods and drinks were shared.
The late policeman, who resides in the community and reportedly tried to intervene during the rowdy session between the soldiers and the youths, was hit by a bullet which resulted in his death, another was reportedly shot on the leg as others sustained various degrees of injuries.
Vanguard also reported that the windscreen and windows of at least five cars, including one hilux belonging to the soldiers, were also destroyed by the youths who went berserk over the incident.
Paul Amodu who was present when the incident occurred, said;
“The soldiers were called in to restore calm after the youths in the community tried to hijack food meant for guests at the reception.
Vexed by the presence of the soldiers, the youths turned their anger on them, leading to fisticuffs amidst gunshots by the soldiers, during which Imomoh was said to have been hit by a bullet; he slumped and died.
The death of the policeman enraged the youths who went wild, attacking guests and destroying vehicles.
The soldiers had to apply minimum force in trying to defend themselves by shooting into the air to scare the rampaging youths, who were trying to disarm them leading to the shooting of one person in the leg.”
Eyewitnesses further claimed that seeing what had happened, the trigger-happy soldiers fled the scene of the incident.
