A police officer has reportedly shot an immigration officer, Christian Oladimeji, an Assistant Superintendent of Immigration (ASI), in what has been described as an accidental discharge in Minna, Niger State.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication covering the Lake Chad region, the incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. on February 21 during a police operation to recover suspected stolen materials.
The report states that officers from the ‘A’ Division Police Command, led by Ibrahim Paiko, were patrolling near the Obasanjo Complex when they encountered road construction workers transporting iron rods believed to be stolen.
Upon sighting the police, the workers—about seven in number—dropped the materials and fled.
“As the officers attempted to recover the abandoned iron rods, they were suddenly attacked by other road construction workers and hoodlums, who hurled stones and other objects at them,” the report read.
The confrontation escalated, leading to the damage of a Dangote patrol vehicle used by the police.
In an attempt to disperse the attackers, Ibrahim Audu, a police officer, fired a shot, which mistakenly struck Oladimeji, who was riding a motorcycle nearby.
“The bullet hit Oladimeji on the lap, causing her to fall and sustain additional injuries,” the report added.
She was rushed to the IBB Specialist Hospital in Minna, where medical personnel confirmed that no bullet fragments were lodged in her body, though she suffered a fractured waist.
“She is currently receiving medical attention, and doctors have assured that she is in stable condition,” Zagazola Makama reported.