By Peter Onyekachukwu 
…….There’s a Big Hole in My Face
By Peter Onyekachukwu
A peaceful protest in Abraka Community, Ethiope-East Local Government Area of Delta State, turned tragic on Monday after soldiers allegedly opened fire on demonstrators, leaving one of them, Omena Ibokpo, seriously injured.
Ibokpo, who spoke with our correspondent from his hospital bed on Tuesday, recounted the terrifying experience and displayed the severe wound he sustained to his face.
“There’s a big hole in my face as I speak with you,” he said in a strained voice, still battling the pain. “I wasn’t beaten with a gun. I was shot. This was not a stray bullet. It hit me directly.”
The protest had been organized by residents and students to voice their anger over rising insecurity, particularly what they described as incessant kidnappings and killings by suspected herdsmen in the Abraka axis. Eyewitnesses claimed the protest was peaceful until military personnel arrived and began firing shots.
Ibokpo, a youth leader and participant in the protest, said he had left the scene to head to the motor park for a trip to Benin City for business matters. According to him, he only stopped briefly to greet some friends when the soldiers suddenly stormed the area and opened fire.
“I had already told my friends that I wasn’t joining the protest again that day. I advised them to wait till the next day to see if the government would respond. We were just talking, then soldiers came and started shooting,” he said.
“In the confusion, I ran toward the park. People started pointing at my face and shouting. That’s when I realized I was bleeding. I checked and saw a deep hole—right in my face. I was in shock.”
He called for an immediate investigation into the incident, urging both national and international bodies to intervene.
“This kind of injustice must not be swept under the carpet. I am calling on human rights groups, the International Criminal Court, lawyers, and journalists to rise and demand accountability,” he appealed. “The Nigerian Government should take this seriously. Those soldiers and whoever sent them must not go unpunished.”
The incident has sparked outrage in the community, with many residents condemning the excessive use of force on unarmed civilians. While the military authorities are yet to comment on the matter, calls for justice and transparency continue to grow louder across Delta State.
As of the time of this report, Ibokpo remains in the hospital receiving treatment for his injuries.