A police officer has shot and killed a young man in Tigray as the region imposed a curfew amid efforts to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, according to reports.

The officer shot and killed Hagos Nigus in Naeder Adet woreda for allegedly failing to comply with orders related to the region-wide state of emergency that aims to prevent the spread of coronavirus, according to BBC Tigrigna.

The woreda police department Yemane Kidanemariam said the young man was shot by one of the officers on Saturday during a dispersal operation at a drinking house in a village called Jira. The police officer in question Constable Angaw Eshete was placed in custody, according to the report.

The Tigray regional state declared a 15-state of emergency on March 26, taking action to limit the size of public gatherings and activities such as weddings, markets, bars, and restaurants.

Image: Debretsion Gebremichael (PhD), vice president of Tigray Regional State