A police officer who fatally shot a 17-year-old boy in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State, has been arrested and detained.
The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident on Monday, assuring the public that justice will be served.
The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday night when police officers stormed the Ozoro community and discovered the teenager in possession of fireworks.
According to reports shared by an X (formerly Twitter) user, @Sabu Daniels, the officers attempted to arrest the boy, but he tried to escape. One of the officers allegedly opened fire, killing him on the spot.
The social media user recounted:
“The police in Ozoror, Delta state, shot and killed a 17-year-old boy because he bought and shot knockout, and they left him to die according to eye witnesses. Angry youths took the body to their station their station and they chased them with tear gas.”
He also noted a tragic similarity to the events leading up to the #EndSARS protests in 2020, which began in the same town. Then, a police officer had fatally shot another young man, Collins, sparking widespread protests against police brutality.
Edafe confirmed the arrest of the officer involved, adding that the Delta State Commissioner of Police has committed to ensuring justice in the case.
The tragic incident has reignited calls for accountability and reform within the Nigerian Police Force, particularly in light of ongoing concerns about extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses.
