A stray bullet from the rifle of a military officer, on Thursday, killed a 13-year-old schoolboy, Usman Adamu, in Ajowa Akoko in the Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The young boy who was said to be returning from school was hit with the bullet while the soldier was trying to restore orderliness among some Fulani men who had issues among themselves.

It was gathered that one other person, Badejo Abdulahi, was also hit with the bullet and was rushed to the State Specialist Hospital in Ikare Akoko for medical attention, while the corpse of the young boy was deposited at the morgue.

According to a source, who stated that a fight broke out among the Fulani men in the town which they extended to the soldier at the security post.

He explained that there was tension within the town over the fear reprisal attack from the Fulani men, following the death of the young boy who was also a Fulani.

However, policemen from the Oke Agbe division were drafted into the area to maintain peace and order in the community.

Speaking, the father of the deceased, Saliu Usman, described the death of his son as an unfortunate and great loss, explaining that the boy was coming from school when the ugly incident happened.

The state government, however, intervened in the matter, by calling an emergency meeting between the warring Fulani factions in the community.

It was gathered that the state Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, directed his Special Adviser on Security Matter, Alh Jimoh Dojumo and Special Assistant on Hausa Fulani matters to look into the matter.

Dojumo appealed to the parents of the young boy to accept the death as an act of God, saying that it was not deliberate but incidental and regrettable.

Speaking on the development, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Major Ojo Adelegan, who confirmed the incident explained that the soldier shot the deceased in self-defence when members of the Fulani community attacked the team of soldiers that were in the community to maintain peace.

Adelegan said, “Our men got an information that some strange Fulani men entered into the town and we moved in to know what was happening, but on getting there, our men saw those strange men and the next thing they did was to attack our men.

“ They even used a dangerous weapon to attack our men, so in defence, our men acted, though we are still investigating the matter”

Meanwhile, the state police command said one person, Adamu Kai, has been arrested in connection with the incident.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph alleged that Kai was the one that invited one of the soldiers to the scene of the incident to settle the fight that ensued among members of the Fulani community in the town.

Joseph said “ We are yet to ascertain whether it was a soldier that killed the boy but there was a fight between two Fulani men so one Abdullahi Kai went and invited the soldiers, it was in the course of settling the matter that argument ensued between them and the soldiers which led to the gunshot. Kai is with us now while the investigation has commenced” (Tribune)

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