Photo: Delta PPRO, Edafe Bright
There is tension in the university town of Abraka in Ethiope-East Local Government Area of Delta State, following the felling of a pregnant woman by bullets suspected to be fired by soldiers who were chasing internet fraudsters, popularly called Yahoo Boys, on Saturday.
It was learnt that the yet unnamed expectant mother was killed by a stray bullet during a hot pursuit of the fraudsters by soldiers of Operation Delta Sweep.
The victim was caught in the crossfire as soldiers opened fire while chasing the fleeing suspects.
A chilling video trending on social media showed the woman, clad in a blood-soaked white shirt, being rushed into a vehicle by a uniformed man in a frantic bid to save her life — but it was too late.
Eyewitnesses said the drama began when the soldiers stopped the suspected yahoo boys for a routine search. But the boys allegedly ignored the order and sped off. Enraged, the soldiers gave chase and fired sporadically. One of the bullets hit the innocent woman, killing her instantly before she could reach the hospital.
The shocking incident sparked outrage in the community. Indigenes, residents and students poured into the streets in angry protests, accusing the soldiers of recklessness and abuse of power.
Efforts to reach the Delta State Police Command’s spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, for confirmation were unsuccessful, as he neither picked up his calls nor replied to messages sent to him.
