By Patrick Idowu
Normalcy has returned to Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) following a violent clash on Friday, in which a police officer’s suspected accidental discharge led to the death of one person.
Eyewitnesses reported that the incident occurred around 7 p.m. at the Tipper Garage area after an argument between two men escalated.
According to Mr. Bulus Ayuba, the altercation began as the men exited a supermarket.
A police officer attached to the premises intervened to resolve the dispute, but as tensions grew and a crowd gathered, the officer attempted to fire a warning shot into the air to disperse the onlookers.
“In the chaos, someone in the crowd accidentally touched the officer’s gun, causing it to misfire and hit a man in the head,” Ayuba recounted.
Mr. Philip Adeyeye, another eyewitness, said the situation quickly spiraled out of control as angry youths staged a protest, setting fire to a vehicle parked at the supermarket.
The unrest was eventually quelled following the intervention of military personnel and additional police reinforcements.
FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu, confirmed the incident, stating that the officer involved had been taken into custody and an investigation was underway.
