Barely a week after the inauguration of Delta Hawk by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to flush out criminals in the state, the security outfit on Tuesday evening killed a woman in Asaba.
It was gathered that a stray bullet from the team hit the woman, a trader, who was identified as Amaka Ohanaja, while she was in her shop. She died on the spot.
According to sources, the Operation Delta Hawk team was chasing a boy who was escaping from them when they allegedly opened fire on him but the bullet hit the woman, whose shop is located around Government House.
The angry mob who wanted to intervene in the woman’s death by questioning the operatives were dispersed with tear gas. Commenting on the death of the woman, the Director-General, Young Nigerian Rights Organisation, Comrade Victor Ojei, said: “The duty of the army is to defend the country, while the police protect lives and property, but they are now involved in the killing of people.”
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Onome Onovwakpoyeya, who confirmed the incident, said: “The Operation Delta Hawk, which comprises the army, police, DSS, NSCDC and vigilante group, flagged down an unregistered Lexus SUV with tinted glasses for a routine check but the two male occupants in a suspicious manner beat the security men and sped off towards Ajaga bush camp in Asaba.”
DSP Onovughagbogaya explained further that some members of the Delta Hawk team 002, in pursuit opened fire on the vehicle in a bid to demobilize it and arrest the occupants. The driver of the car, Joshua Ona, was also hit by a stray bullet and rushed to New Generation Hospital, Okpanam for treatment.”
The PPRO, however, assured the family of the deceased that “the incident will be discretely investigated and the culprit brought to book”.