Tragedy struck in Sapele, Delta State as a police Inspector identified as Afang Luke, accidentally shot dead a junior colleague, Corporal Chinonso Okafor, when they intercepted some persons suspected to be cultists.
According to a police source who spoke anonymously, the incident occurred on Tuesday at about 4:30 pm during the Delta State Police Tactical Squad routine patrol at Mosogar, Sapele.
According to the reliable source, in a bid to arrest the men, who tried to run on sighting the police, Luke accidentally shot Okafor from the rear.
“Inspector Luke was trying to stop the boys from escaping, but he mistakenly shot Corporal Okafor at the back. It was an accidental discharge,” the source said.
The victim was immediately taken to the Central Hospital, Sapele, where he was confirmed dead on arrival.
The police source confirmed that Luke was arrested and currently detained at the Sapele Division of the police, while the two boys were also arrested and detained at the same station.
Efforts to speak with the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, were unsuccessful.
Edafe did not answer several calls to his phone number, neither did he reply messages sent as SMS and WhatsApp text.
Also, police have arrested two suspects in Kano in possession of two tricycles stolen from Unguwan Maigero, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
According to ASP Mansir Hassan, Police spokesman in Kaduna State, the suspects were arrested with the help of the Divisional Police Officer of Dala division in Kano.
Hassan told newsmen on Thursday in Kaduna that the suspects, Shuaibu Ahmed and Abubakar Haruna, were arrested on January 16 with the stolen tricycles.
“The two suspects have been brought back to Kaduna for investigation, which is ongoing, and they will be charged to court on completion of the investigation.” he added.