Tension is high in Eha-Alumona, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State following an attack on the Umabor Police Station by angry youths.
DAILY POST learnt that the youths also blocked the ever busy Enugu-Makurdi Expressway yesterday, crippling vehicular movement.
It was, however, gathered that though no life was lost in the sporadic shootings which lasted for several hours, police vehicles, including a hilux van and some parts of the building were destroyed.
A source told our correspondent that trouble started when a team of policemen stormed a viewing centre and arrested some residents, a development that angered the youths.
According to the community source, “what happened yesterday was accumulation of anger. The police have been in the habit of making indiscriminate arrest in the Eha Community.
“Each time they come, they would pick so many young men and force them to pay N5,000 for bail; if you refuse to pay, they will detain you for those. That’s what they repeated Tuesday night.”
He further disclosed that on getting to the Police Station, the angry youths demanded immediate release of their brothers, a request turned down by the police.
It was learnt that at that point, the youths went wild and started vandalizing property; even as they reportedly engaged the police in sporadic shootings.
“Also, in the early morning of yesterday, they re-grouped and blocked the ever busy Enugu-Makurdi Expressway. It took the intervention of the DPO of Nsukka Urban before they removed the road block.
The member representing Nsukka East constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Chinedu Nwamba, who confirmed the incident, re-echoed the claims that the police had allegedly being harassing his people, accusing them of being armed robbers and cultists, extorting N5,000 from them.
In a telephone chat, Nwamba who did not confirm whether properties were vandalized said, “I have complained severally to the DPO over the complaints from my people; I told the DPO that I’m not impeding him from doing his job, but that after arrest and investigation, he should release innocent people who were not found culpable of any crime unconditionally.
“So, the same thing happened yesterday, the police arrested 40 of my constituents during a Chelsea match. Even the Councillor representing Eha ward was beaten to a pulp when he demanded to know the reason for the arrest.
“If not for my intervention, the Makurdi Expressway would still have been blocked by now.”
As at the time of filling this report, a police source hinted that the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Adamu was in a meeting with Hon. Nwamba and other youth leaders from the community.
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Frantic efforts made to obtain reaction from the police failed as the Enugu Police Spokesman did not pick several calls put across to him.
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