A police officer providing guard duty for a traditional ruler in Edo State, has been arrested for killing two nursing mothers during a burial at Ivhiokhile quarters in Fugar, Etsakor Central Local Government Area of the state.
According to reports, the police corporal, while trying to usher his 'boss' into a vehicle, fired a shot into the air to scare the crowd who had surrounded the high chief but unfortunately, the two women were hit by the bullet and they died on the spot.
The incident happened on Saturday, June 27, 2015.
One of the deceased women was identified as Sandra Imhaku, was said to have been delivered of a child few weeks before she met her untimely death in the hands of the trigger happy police officer.
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An eyewitness reports that the bullet narrowly missed the two-month old baby Imhaku had strapped on her back before hitting her on the neck.
She was said to be seating among other guests at the ceremony.
The other woman who died was identified as Mrs. Saliu, from Delta State, who had travelled down for the burial.
The incident led to a pandemonium as angry youths descended on the other policemen at the event but they managed to flee the scene.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Samuel Adegbuyi, confirmed the arrest of the policeman whose name he refused to disclosed.
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Adebguyi disclosed that it was a case of accidental discharge that resulted in the death of the two women.
“The officer has been arrested and investigation has commenced and very soon, on completion of the investigation, he will be arraigned in court,” Adegbuyi said.
