Pandemonium erupted in the Ukwani Local Government Area of Delta State last week as youths angrily protested the killing of 29-year-old Gift Ojarikre by a trigger-happy police officer.

FIJ learnt that Ojarikre was killed at about 8pm on September 24 while celebrating his 29th birthday at a bar along the new Sapele-Agbor Road, Obinomba.

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Ogbolu Afam, the community youth leader, told FIJ that the deceased was celebrating with his friends when a police van pulled over by the bar.

“Immediately they entered, Ojarikre walked up to meet them, suspecting that they might intimidate everyone as they always did whenever they raided the bar,” he said.

“Ojarikre told them he was celebrating his birthday. He even politely signalled them to join in the celebration. But one police officer was offended by this move. The officer pushed him and slapped him.”

Suspecting that things might turn sour, the men at the bar ran away, and what followed was a gunshot.

“Ojarikre was shot on his laps. The officers, on seeing his condition, took him to a police station. This was after everyone had run for dear life,” Afam said.

By 11pm that same night, the youths in the community went to the hospital where the police had taken Ojarikre. This was after they had searched different hospitals as they did not initially know where he was taken to.

“We found him dead there. In annoyance, the youths began to protest and burnt tyres on the road. There was gridlock because of the protest,” Afam said.

Afam also said the youths refused to listen to the king’s call for order as they continued protesting, prompting some police officers to temporarily vacate the station.

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Caroline Ojarikre, the deceased’s mother, told FIJ that she needed justice for her only son. She said he was the pillar of the family and that without him, she was not sure of survival.

“He has a daughter who is just four months old,” she said. “He left a wife and many siblings he took care of. I cannot cope.”

Caroline also told FIJ that since the youths in the community reported the issue to the Delta State House of Assembly in Asaba, nothing significant had been done.

FIJ placed several phone calls to Edafe Bright but they were not answered. A text message sent also got no response.

FIJ contacted Florence Echikwu, the Divisional Police Officer of Obiaruku Police Station at Ukwuani Local Government but she said she was unwilling to say anything.