Policemen yesterday engaged some youths of Auchi town in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, suspected to be involved in the vandalisation of pipelines owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in a clash, leading to the killing of one of the youths.
The clash, which reportedly started from the scene of the last pipeline explosion in Iyeke community, lasted for about seven hours.
Most banks, business outlets and the gates of the Auchi Polytechnic were shut and cordoned off by armed policemen to avoid unnecessary incidents.
Vanguard gathered that the intervention of the paramount ruler of the town, the Otaru of Auchi and other elders of the town on the youths to desist from continuing the confrontation over the death of their colleagues prevented another killing, as they had earlier insisted on burning down the Auchi Police Station in retaliation of the death of the youth.
Vanguard gathered that the confrontation started early yesterday morning between 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. following a tip-off received by the police patrol team that some persons have invaded a vandalised point of the NNPC pipeline and were scooping fuel.
On arrival, the policemen reportedly rounded up about eight youths with various jerry cans of fuel. While some of them bolted and escaped the clutches of the law enforcement officers, others allegedly mobilised and sprayed the patrol jeep of the officers with fuel and were about setting it ablaze, when one of them was shot by one of the officers.
But another version reported that the youth was shot dead by the police officer for resisting arrest. Few hours later, the news of the killing of the unidentified youth had spread into town and created tension and anger.
It was gathered that hundreds of youths, armed with fuel and other dangerous weapons, immediately moved towards the Auchi Police Station but were prevailed upon by the paramount ruler of the town, the Otaru of Auchi to lay down arms.
The policemen on their part, quickly mobilised and mounted road blocks along Jattu road and third Igbe road to prevent further actions from the youths.
An eyewitness said the policemen released into the protesting crowd canisters of tear gas and it provoked a retaliation from the youths.