Two young men were mistakenly killed by a bullet from a policeman’s gun in Ekiti State.
Witnesses report that the incident occurred around 10 pm on Tuesday in the Omisanjana Area of Ado Ekiti.
According to reports, there was an accident in the area, and some irate youths attempted to mob the driver and set the vehicle ablaze.
The police were contacted to calm the situation, but the youths showed no sign of backing down when the officers arrived.
In the process of trying to disperse the youths, there was an accidental discharge from one of the officer’s guns, which hit two of the youths.
Though the victims were rushed to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, they did not survive.
The bodies have been deposited in the morgue.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Ekiti State Police Command, DSP Sunday Abutu, said a discreet investigation has commenced.
Abutu, in a statement, said: “The Command, upon the receipt of the information, deployed the State Traffic Section to the scene to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order as well as ensuring the safety of the victims.
“On getting to the scene, the operatives met resistance as some irate youths disallowed them from performing their lawful duty and insisted on carrying out jungle justice. This necessitated a call for reinforcement to assist the officers on the ground. However, in the process, one of the officers accidentally fired a shot that fatally injured two persons.”
He added, “The officer responsible for the shooting has been disarmed, arrested, and detained and shall be made to face disciplinary action immediately.”
While the Command is already in touch with the families of the deceased, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, CP Akinwale Kunle Adeniran, condoled with the families and assured them that a discreet investigation has commenced and justice shall prevail.
