A man has been shot dead in Warri on Thursday, day two of the 14-day lockdown meant to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the oil-rich Delta State.
It was gathered that a young man, identified as Joseph Pessu, drove in a black car without a plate number and headed towards NPA Express towards Ugbuwamgue from Ogunnu, a suburb of Warri.
At about 11:00a.m, Pessu was reportedly flagged down by security personnel but refused to stop even after the right rear tyre of his car was ruptured by a bullet released by one of the security officers.
According to witnesses said in spite of the burst tyre, the father-of-two drove on from Ogunnu to NPA expressway while being pursued by the security agents.
The driver got to Ugbuwangue junction and blocked the road with his car to dissuade the security men from reaching him. He opened the door and began to flee on foot.
The security personnel, who had almost caught up with him, then shot him dead.
The killing drew the anger of youths from Ugbuwangue community as they blocked the NPA expressway and began to burn tyres on some spots along to register their anger.
In the process, two yet-to-be-identified naval ratings from the Nigeria Navy Ship (Delta), Warri, who was on a motorcycle en route NPA expressway, were halted, beaten to a pulp and their bike burnt.
The two naval ratings, who escaped death by the whiskers, are said to be receiving urgent medical attention at the naval clinic, Effurun.
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It will be recalled that the state government had earlier in repeated broadcast urged residents of the state to steer clear of public gatherings and remain indoors except those on essential duties during the two-week shutdown which started April 1.
Meanwhile, the security agent who reportedly shot Pessu dead was said to have personally reported himself to the A Division of the Nigeria Police in Warri Area Command and is now being interrogated.
Area Commander, Warri, CP Muhammed Garba, who confirmed the incident, said the family of the deceased had been contacted and the killer-security agent apprehended, adding that the lockdown continues and residents should endure.
The deceased is said to have been deposited in a morgue in Warri.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Government has called for an investigation into the killing.
The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu in a statement in Asaba, said the government was worried about the incident.
“The military authorities have been contacted to carry out an investigation into what led to the killing of the deceased,” he said.
The commissioner said the state government has sent a delegation to the deceased family to condole with them over the loss of their son.
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