November 20, (THEWILL) – The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the death of a bystander who was fatally shot during a scuffle between a police officer and a soldier at the Ugwuachara axis of the old Enugu-Ogoja Expressway in Ebonyi State.
State Commissioner of Police, CP Adaku Uche-Anya, disclosed that the incident occurred during a routine stop-and-search operation conducted by police officers in the area.
According to the CP, the altercation began when a soldier on a motorcycle was flagged down by the police team for inspection. However, the soldier reportedly resisted, leading to a heated scuffle.
“The policemen on stop-and-search stopped the purported soldier and attempted to search him, but he refused. During the scuffle, the soldier tried to disarm one of the officers, and a bullet accidentally went off, hitting a bystander,” Uche-Anya explained.
She clarified that the shooting was not intentional but an unfortunate outcome of the confrontation.
“One person lost their life during the incident, and three others sustained injuries. The injured victims are currently receiving medical treatment and are responding well,” she added.
The CP confirmed that both the soldier and the involved police officer have been taken into custody as investigations into the matter continue.
The Special Assistant to the Ebonyi State Governor on Internal Security (Ebonyi Local Government Area), Obinna Mbam, also addressed the situation, assuring residents that the perpetrators would be held accountable.
“Normalcy has returned to the area. We are committed to ensuring that justice is served, and the incident will be thoroughly investigated,” Mbam stated.
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