JUST IN: Ebonyi Police Confirm Death of Bystander in Scuffle Between Officer and Soldier

Babatunji Wusu –

• Incident Overview: A bystander was accidentally shot during a scuffle between a police officer and a soldier in Ebonyi State.
• Cause of the Shooting: The shooting occurred when a soldier resisted a stop-and-search by police, leading to a physical altercation. A firearm went off during the struggle, killing one person and injuring three others.
• Authorities’ Response: Both the soldier and the police officer involved have been taken into custody for investigation.
• Restoration of Order: The Special Assistant to the Governor confirmed that normalcy has returned to the area and assured that those responsible would be held accountable.

The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the tragic death of a middle-aged bystander who was accidentally shot during a scuffle between a police officer and a soldier at the Ugwuachara area of the old Enugu-Ogoja Expressway. The incident occurred during a stop-and-search operation conducted by the police.

According to the State’s Police Commissioner, CP Adaku Uche-Anya, the altercation began when a soldier on a motorcycle was flagged down by the police for a search. The soldier resisted, leading to a physical confrontation between the soldier and the officers. During the scuffle, one of the officers’ firearms discharged, hitting an innocent bystander.

CP Uche-Anya clarified that the shooting was unintentional, stating, “It’s not as if they just opened fire on an innocent bystander, but during the scuffle, a bullet went off and struck the individual.” The incident resulted in one death, and three others sustained injuries, though they are reportedly in stable condition.

The police have confirmed the identity of the soldier involved and are currently holding both the soldier and the police officer in custody for further investigation.

In response to the incident, Hon. Obinna Mbam, the Special Assistant to the Ebonyi State Governor on Internal Security, assured that normalcy has been restored in the area. He also pledged that those responsible for the incident would face legal consequences.