Following the alleged shooting of a young man, simply identified as Mr. Patrick, by agents of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), in Ughelli, Delta state, residents of the area have taken to protest.

SARS operatives had reportedly pulled the trigger on the victim’s leg for refusing them access to his phone.

The incident was said to have happened on Thursday morning, around Makolomi Street near Upper Agbarho area of Ughelli.

The SARS team was further alleged to have left the victim at the scene with blood gushing out of his wounds.

The Nation gathered it was policemen from the Ughelli station who later rushed the victim to the Ughelli Central Hospital, where he is currently receiving medical treatment.

According to an eyewitness, “The young man did not do anything. SARS operatives who were patrolling the area on Thursday stopped the victim and demanded that he must open his phone for them but he declined.

“The operatives started beating him until they collected the phone from him but he refused. He is a very humble boy in the area. When the incident was happening it was the women in the area that were bold enough to challenge them. When others were still flogging him, one of the operatives opened fire on his leg. They jumped into the vehicle and left.

“It was other police officers from the Ughelli Police Station that came to rush to the man to hospital. He is there at the hospital as we speak.”

However, the development has caused many people, including women and youths from the area to protest against the activities of SARS operatives and the alleged shooting of the victim.

It was learnt that the protesters who set fire on tyres on major roads leading to the Ughelli Area Command, called for an end to SARS operatives, positing that several innocent persons have died from their onslaught.

One of the protesters, who only gave his name as Igho called on police authorities in the state to ensure that justice is served the victim.

He said, “We no longer move freely because of SARS in Ughelli. Once they see two or three youths walking together, the next thing you will see is SARS operatives searching their phones.

“We cannot continue like this. The police authorities should investigate the incident and stop their men from maltreating people.”

When contacted on the incident, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeyinka Adeleke, said it was not clear if it was a policeman that shot the victim.

“Somebody was shot, but we do not know if it was a policeman that shot the person,” the CP stated.

See more here; http://gistmore.com/residents-protest-alleged-sars-shooting-in-ughelli

Lalasticlala

Too bad