Tragedy struck in Igueomo community along the Benin-Agbor Road as a man lost his life to a stray bullet allegedly fired from a police gun. The victim, identified as a Hausa man, was in the process of transferring N4000 to his wife through a Point of Sale (PoS) operator when the unfortunate incident occurred on Wednesday evening.
According to reports, the chaos ensued when police operatives engaged in a pursuit of suspected hoodlums in the area. In the flurry of events, shots were fired, one of which tragically struck the victim as he sought refuge from the unfolding turmoil.
Eyewitnesses revealed that after completing the transaction to send money to his wife, the deceased became aware of the escalating situation and attempted to flee to safety. However, he was fatally struck by the stray bullet, succumbing to his injuries on the spot.
“The deceased, after transferring N4000 to the wife, heard of the commotion in the area and decided to run to a safer place, only to be hit by the stray bullet,” a source recounted.
The incident sparked outrage among the youth of the community, who swiftly mobilized, blocking the road in protest against the senseless loss of life. Armed with sticks and machetes, they prevented access to the road, and even resorted to vandalizing a police vehicle that attempted to pass through.
“The irate youths who were armed with sticks and machetes, barricaded the road and ensured that no one have access to either side of the road. A police vehicle that attempted to pass the road was vandalized,” the source added.
The disruption caused by the protest forced many passengers to disembark from buses, opting to trek to their destinations instead.
In response to inquiries, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident, assuring that investigations were underway to identify those involved in the operation.
“The incident is regrettable, and we are currently conducting a thorough investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of the victim,” SP Nwabuzor stated.
