A laborer was killed in Ebonyi State when he was struck by a stray bullet during a confrontation between police and soldiers.
On Wednesday, Adaku Uche-Anya, the Commissioner of Police, confirmed the incident.
According to information obtained, the regrettable incident took place in Ugwuachara village, which is located in the state’s Ebonyi Local Government Area, on Wednesday morning.
A stray bullet is said to have struck the deceased laborer when the police allegedly attempted to disarm the soldier wearing a mufti.
The confrontation between the soldier on a bike and police officers on a “stop and search” mission also injured three other people.
According to the State Commissioner of Police, who verified the incident, the soldier was riding a motorcycle when the police stopped him for a search, which led to a fight between him and the officers.
She revealed that the soldier’s identity had been verified and that he was on a pass in Ebonyi State but was supposed to be participating in Operation Kachayanma in Kaduna.
She stated, “The soldier was trying to disarm one of the policemen and the bullet went off and hit a bystander who was there. It was not as if the policemen opened fire on bystanders. What happened was that during the scuffle, the bullet went off and hit the bystander.
“One person died and three injured but they are responding to treatment in the hospital.
“We have confirmed the identity of the soldier, he is a soldier serving in Kaduna. Both the soldier and the policemen are in our custody.”
Published by Ejoh Caleb
