Tragedy struck today at Jakpa Junction, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State, when an alleged attempt by a Soldier on the Jakpa Junction checkpoint to hit a tricycle rider who purportedly flouted sanitation directive led to the death of an unidentified woman whose child was billed to wed today.
It was gathered that the victim traveled from Kwale and on getting to Effurun, she bounded the tricycle to take her to the daughter’s place at London Opi Street in Warri to participate in her wedding when the incident happened.
An eye witness claimed that the soldiers on the checkpoint were on duty ensuring compliance on the restriction of movement during the sanitation period, when the tricycle rider on sighting them while carrying the woman, attempted to evade the military men, this infuriated the soldiers and in a bid to hit the tricyclist with the tip of their gun said to have knife that the woman was struck.
She reportedly died on the spot and attempt by youths in the area to respond to the soldiers allegedly led to the shooting of three of them by the soldiers on the checkpoint for reasons not clear as at the time of going to press.
Her lifeless body was later deposited at the mortuary of the Warri Central Hospital.
Though speculations claimed the three Uvwie youths may have died, but our source said they were rushed to undisclosed hospital for medical attention, insisting they are still alive.
