Disorder engulfed the Benin-Asaba Expressway near Iguomo Junction on Wednesday when a stray bullet, allegedly fired by the police, tragically ended the life of an unnamed man at a Point of Sale (PoS) stand.
The victim, in the midst of transferring N4000 to his wife in the village, fell victim to the stray bullet amid a police operation to apprehend suspected hoodlums, leading to a clash with local youths.
Eyewitnesses recounted the chaos, explaining that amidst the confrontation, shots rang out, fatally striking the victim.Incensed by the unjust loss of life, residents took to the streets, blocking the Benin-Asaba Expressway.
Armed with sticks and machetes, protesters erected barricades and ignited bonfires, halting traffic flow and leaving travelers stranded.
More Read
“The victim, innocently completing a money transfer to his wife, sought refuge from the chaos outside, only to be struck by the stray bullet,” revealed a local source.
The following day, the protest persisted, with enraged youths expressing their grievances and vandalizing passing police vehicles.
The blockade caused substantial traffic congestion, affecting commuters traveling along the expressway.
Confirming the incident, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, acknowledged an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the police operation.
He assured that authorities are actively working to restore order and address the concerns of the aggrieved community.
