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Pandemonium as Nigerian policeman mistakenly shoots colleague to death in Plateau

Published

1 month ago

May 23, 2024

There was a pandemonium as a policeman accidentally shot his colleague to death in Plateau State.

The incident happened on Wednesday at Terminus Market in Jos, the Plateau state capital.

The two policemen were said to be among the enforcement team of the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB).

Security operatives, including police officers and soldiers, were recently deployed by the state government to enforce regulations against street trading in the area.

According to a witness, Ibrahim Musa, the deceased officer was struck by a stray bullet fired by a member of the security personnel patrolling the area.

An official of the market, who chose to remain anonymous because they were not authorised to speak to journalists, attributed the officer’s death to an accidental discharge by his colleague.

According to him, “At approximately 12 o’clock on Wednesday, security personnel were in pursuit of traders when, unexpectedly, an officer mistakenly discharged his firearm, fatally hitting the policeman in the neck. Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries instantly. Shortly after, officials from the Road Safety Corps arrived to transport the deceased officer’s body to a nearby hospital.”

The unfortunate incident sparked tension in the vicinity, leading to the firing of tear gas to disperse the crowd.

In response to inquiries, Alabo Alfred, spokesperson for the state police command, stated that investigations into the incident were ongoing.

Mr Alfred said the police were investigating the matter.

A similar event had occurred in December 2024 when an Inspector in the Rivers State Police Command committed suicide after he reportedly shot his colleague – Monday Gbaramana – dead.

The police operative identified as Inspector Nelson Abuante reportedly shot his colleague on Sunday at Nyogor-Lueku in the Khana Local Government Area of the state.

Both of them who are attached to the Taabaa Division of the Command had gone to arrest a suspect in the community following a complaint by the suspect’s mother.

Trouble however started when the suspect Akere Akpobari resisted the attempt to arrest him. In the ensuing melee, Inspector Abuante accidentally shot Inspector Gbaramana.

Gbaramana sustained injuries and was immediately rushed to the hospital. But the matter worsened when the vehicle conveying them ran out of petrol, leading to Gbaramana’s death.

Once he realised this, Abuante turned the gun on himself and committed suicide.