Immigration officer mistakenly shot by police officer during routing patrol
Immigration officer mistakenly shot by police officer during operation
An Assistant Superintendent of Immigration (ASI), Christian Oladimeji, was mistakenly shot by a police officer on Friday, February 21 in Minna, Niger State.
The incident took place around 12:30 PM during a police operation aimed at recovering stolen materials, according to reports from Zagazola Makama, a publication covering counter-insurgency issues in the Lake Chad region.
The incident occurred when a police surveillance team from the ‘A’ Division of the Minna Police Command, led by Ibrahim Paiko, was conducting a routine patrol near the Obasanjo Complex.
The officers encountered a group of road construction workers, around seven in number, who were carrying iron rods suspected to have been stolen.
Upon seeing the officers, the workers quickly abandoned the materials and fled the scene.
As the police officers attempted to secure the abandoned iron rods, they were unexpectedly attacked by a group of other road workers and alleged hoodlums, who threw stones and other objects at them.
The assault also resulted in significant damage to the Dangote patrol vehicle used by the police.
In an effort to protect the officers and regain control of the situation, one officer, Ibrahim Audu, fired a shot, which tragically struck Oladimeji, who was riding a motorcycle nearby.
The bullet hit Oladimeji in the lap, causing her to fall from the motorcycle and suffer additional injuries.
Oladimeji was quickly transported to the IBB Specialist Hospital in Minna, where medical personnel confirmed that while no bullet fragments remained in her body, she had sustained a waist fracture.
Doctors have assured that she is in stable condition and is receiving ongoing treatment.
Authorities have arrested several individuals in connection with the incident and have initiated disciplinary actions against the officers involved.
A security source stated that a thorough investigation is underway and that appropriate measures will be taken in response to the incident.
Residents of Minna have been urged to remain calm as security agencies work to maintain peace and order in the state.
“We are conducting a full investigation into the incident, and necessary actions will be taken,” the security source confirmed.
