No fewer than two persons were reportedly killed and about seven others severely injured in a case of ‘accidental discharge’ by an officer of the Nigerian Police Force.

The incident, which happened at the burial ceremony of the late mother of the traditional ruler of Umuakoli Urualla in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State, HRH Eze Martin Aladi, penultimate weekend, reportedly recorded multiple casualties.

The policeman who was not immediately identified, was said to be an orderly of one of the prominent indigenes of the town, Mr. Remy Chris Nwagbo.

It was gathered that the incident happened when members of the Ideato Committe of Friends went to the king’s Chambers to pay him a condolence visit.

According to community sources, members of the group were leaving the king’s chamber when they saw Nwagbo, who is also a member of Ideato Committee of Friends, and decided to accompany him to pay his own visit to the Eze.

“Before they made to move, they stayed to exchange pleasantries as members of the club. It was then that a police orderly guarding Remy Chris tried to give them some gun salutes.

“As he made to lift the gun up, it opened fire, destroying the jaws of the man exchanging greetings with Chris as well as injuring about seven other persons waiting to greet Remy Chris”, one of the sources told our correspondent.

The source added that the last person the bullet touched died instantly because the bullet blew his brains to smithereens while the other person was confirmed dead in the hospital.

The spokesman of state police command, Orlando Ikeoku simply responded ‘Get back to you please’ to a text message sent to him by our correspondent.

However, as of the time of filling this report, he did not get back as promised neither did the state commissioner of police, Rabiu Ladodo answer calls and messages sent to his phone.

But, a senior police officer told our correspondent in confidence that the officer had since been arrested and that he was facing orderly room trial. (The Nation)

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