‘Mother, Child Crushed In Timber Accident Not Killed By Police’

The Delta State Police Command has shed light on a viral video showing a mother and her child lying lifeless at the scene of an accident on PTI Express Way in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

A tweeter user, @StephAnnie, had shared a video which alleged that some operatives of the police, in a bid to catch up with a group of internet fraudsters, drove recklessly and caused an accident, leading to the death of a woman and her child.

This just happened at PTI junction Warri delta state caused by police who were chasing after some guys and ended up shooting at this mother and child, killing them at the spot. I thought we all agreed no more police brutality ???????????????????? #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria #EndSARS pic.twitter.com/roYqzBIMis

— Annie Stephs (@StephsAnnie) January 20, 2021

The deceased, who was a hawker on the said expressway, did survived the accident as she and her infant died instantly.

However, in a statement issued on Thursday, the State Police Command said mother and child were crushed in an accident involving a truck and a Toyota Camry car, and not a police vehicle.

A statement by the police said: “The Command wishes to inform the general public that neither Operation Delta Hawk nor Ebrumede patrol vehicle was involved as speculated earlier”.

The State Police Spokesperson, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said the accident involved a Tipper and a Toyota Camry car.

“The accident involved a Mercedes Tipper with Reg. No. WWR 425 ZR loaded with granite, a Toyota Camry car with Reg. No. AKD 403 FM and a Tricycle Reg. No. yet unknown, all moving in the same direction and Police vehicle was never involved.

“Two passengers conveyed by the tricycle, a woman and a baby girl, died on the spot and other passengers were injured,” she said.

Meanwhile, some angry youths had mobilised to set the police patrol vehicle ablaze, blaming policemen for the death of the lady and her child.

The command, however, frowned on the “unjust” treatment meted to the officers who had embarked on a rescue mission to the scene of the incident.

“They went as far as burning the police patrol vehicle that came for the rescue operation. The perpetrators of this dastardly act will be brought to book” she said.

The command also sympathised with the families of the deceased.