From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
Operatives of the recently inaugurated joint security outfit, Operation Delta Hawk (OPDH), have allegedly shot dead a woman around the new General Hospital area in Asaba, the state capital.
The victim, identified as Amaka Ohanaja, was a petty trader who was in her shop, where she was hit by stray bullet fired by the operatives.
The operatives were chasing the occupants of a tinted Lexus car who refused to stop when they were flagged down.
In attempts to demobilise the car, the operatives opened fire, with a bullet straying to hit the late petty trader, while another bullet pierced the vehicle and hit the driver, one Joshua Ona.
As at the time of filing this report, the 30-year-old Joshua Ona was receiving treatment at the hospital while the Lexus had been recovered to the headquarters of the OPDH in Asaba.
Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed the incident in Asaba, yesterday.
Onovwakpoyeya said the command deeply sympathised and condoled with the deceased’s family.
She said the occupants of the Lexus car refused to stop for routine checks but rather sped off towards a nearby bush.
“Thereafter, it was gathered that a woman, identified as Amaka Ohanaja, was alleged to have been hit by stray bullet and consequently died.
“The incident is highly regrettable and condemnable. We wish to assure the deceased’s family and the public that police have no hand in it and that the incident will be investigated and the culprit brought to book,” Onovwakpoyeya said in a statement in Asaba.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had earlier this month, inaugurated the joint security outfit, comprising the police, army, civil defence and local vigilante.