Rita Daniel.
A tragic incident unfolded in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, when a young woman, believed to be pregnant, was killed by a stray bullet. The deadly shot was fired by a naval officer who was part of the Operation Delta Sweep team during a stop-and-search operation on Saturday evening.
The unfortunate event occurred when security operatives attempted to flag down a vehicle without a registration number. The driver, however, refused to comply, prompting a naval officer to open fire in an attempt to halt the vehicle. A stray bullet from the officer's firearm struck the woman, who was seated in the front passenger seat.
This incident has ignited anger and tension within the local community, leading a group of youths to storm a nearby Divisional Police Station in protest. Their outrage was fueled by the senseless loss of life, as the community grappled with the implications of such violence.
After the initial outburst, the youths retreated upon learning that the operatives involved were members of Operation Delta Sweep, rather than conventional police officers. This clarification did little to assuage the community's grief, as they continued to seek accountability for the tragedy.
David Tonwe, the Director General of Delta State Security, confirmed the young woman’s death in a press interview, describing the situation as “unfortunate.” He appealed for calm, explaining that the unregistered vehicle had previously been spotted along the road, which justified the security team’s actions.
Tonwe detailed the sequence of events leading to the shooting, stating that when the first patrol team flagged down the vehicle, the driver sped away. The vehicle was later intercepted at another checkpoint, where the driver again refused to stop, nearly injuring a naval officer in the process. In response to this dangerous maneuver, the officer discharged his weapon.
The young woman was immediately rushed to a private hospital for medical attention but was later referred to Eku Hospital due to inadequate care. Tonwe emphasized that Operation Delta Sweep did not intend to harm anyone, clarifying that the bullet that struck the woman was a stray shot, underscoring the unpredictable nature of such operations.
