One killed in Rivers youths, militia clash, police begin probe

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the death of one person during a clash between some youths and a local security outfit in the Degema Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that the crisis started when youths and other members of the community had gone to carry a corpse deposited at the Degema General Hospital for burial.

It was learnt that they were allegedly attacked by the armed security outfit called ‘Amama soldiers’ along the popular Degema market junction.

During the melee that broke out a yet-to-be-identified person who was reportedly shot in the leg later died.

It took the intervention of a police team that arrived at the scene to quell the crisis and restore normalcy in the area.

The spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the incident said the Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident.

Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police added, “Already the Divisional Police Officer has deployed a patrol team and they are still in the community monitoring the situation.

“The Commissioner of Police has already deployed additional security to that community to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order. He has also ordered a full-scale investigation to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the crisis with a view to punish anyone found wanting.

“For now our investigation revealed that one person who was shot in the leg eventually gave up the ghost. While we advise people of the area to go about their normal activities as police investigation continues, anyone found culpable would be arrested and prosecuted.”