Officials of COVID-19 Task Force situated Ughelli North local government area of Delta state were on Monday allegedly attacked by suspected youths from Otor-Ihwreko the host community to Ughelli main market in the local government area.
The hoodlums numbering more than hundreds on Monday morning attacked the policemen and officials of COVID-19 task force while carrying out sensitization campaign on the uses of nose masks, hand sanitizers and social distancing precautions at recommended by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to the market women.
Emerald News learnt that the youths in their hundreds emerged from the community’s shrine on sighting the officials of the COVID-19 task force and policemen from ‘A’ Division, Ughelli with dangerous weapons and heavily attacked the policemen and officials of COVID-19 Task Force of the council area.
Two women sergeant from ‘A’ Division Ughelli were beaten to stupor and their uniforms were torn and half naked while alighting from the council’s NUGLE bus.
The officials of the task force were not spared as many of them were left with various degree of injuries in their bodies.
According to an eyewitness, an attempt to set the council bus ablaze was averted as the DPO ‘A’ Division, Ughelli, CSP Kevin Zuokumor sent police officers to rescue the police officers and officials of COVID-19 task force locked up in the market stalls.
The youths in their warring song said the community will no longer fold their hands looking at government of Delta State killing their people with hunger, any attempt by the state government or anybody to impose stringent condition on their people will be resisted.
“From henceforth, any attempt by Delta state government to further impose stringent conditions on our people will be highly resisted by superior power”.
One of the market women who spoke to our reporter said, over the weekend the council boss informed the traders that the officials of COVID-19 task force will visit the market on Monday to sensitise them on the need why they should use their nose masks always.
When contacted, the council boss, Hon. Goodwin Adode condemned the attack on the officials of the council and Nigeria policemen from ‘A’ Division Ughelli who are carrying out their lawful duty.
Adode vowed that the perpetrators will not go unpunished adding that they will be arrested and made to face the law.
“We will not condone it from anybody, the youths of Otor-Ihwreko that attacked policemen and officials of COVID-19 task force will face the law and brought to book” he threatened.
Meanwhile, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) ‘A’ Division Ughelli, CSP Kevin Zoukumor has assured the council boss of getting the hoodlums arrested and prosecuted
