A police officer in Minna, Niger State, shot assistant superintendent of immigration (ASI) Christian Oladimeji in what has been characterized as an accident.
A police patrol squad retrieving stolen goods was attacked by hoodlums around 12:30 p.m. on February 21, according to Lake Chad counter-insurgency newspaper Zagazola Makama.
According to the allegation, officers from the ‘A’ division police command in Minna, led by Ibrahim Paiko, were conducting patrols in the vicinity of Obasanjo Complex when they came across a group of road construction workers who were hauling iron rods that were suspected of being stolen.
When the workers, who were thought to be around seven in number, saw the police, they immediately dropped the items and fled the scene.
“As the officers attempted to recover the abandoned iron rods, they were suddenly attacked by other road construction workers and hoodlums, who threw stones and other objects at them.
The Dangote patrol car used by the police was also damaged in the assault. Ibrahim Audu fired a shot to save the officers from being overpowered as the situation worsened, but Oladimeji, who was riding a motorcycle nearby, was accidentally hit by the bullet, according to Makama.
“The bullet hit Oladimeji on the lap, causing her to fall from the motorcycle and sustain additional injuries.
After being transported to the IBB Specialist Hospital in Minna, medical personnel verified that she had a fractured waist but that no bullet fragments were embedded in her body.
Makama said. According to reports, disciplinary actions have been taken against the implicated cops, and some individuals have been taken into custody for interrogation.
Residents have been asked to maintain their composure by authorities, who have assured them that security personnel are making every effort to keep the peace.