A final year student at Kwararafa University, Wukari in Taraba State, miss Ahenjir Emmanuella, has been allegedly killed by a stray bullet fired by a police officer during a stop-and-search operation in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
According to report, the incident occurred around 8 am on Friday at the Wurukum roundabout, Makurdi. The police officers from the Benue State Police Command were said to be conducting routine checks at the time.
Quoting witnesses at the scene of the shooting, the report stated that an officer suddenly opened fire on a commercial vehicle carrying passengers, approaching the roundabout. Emmanuella, who was one of the passengers in the vehicle was fatally hit after the bullet pierced into the bus.
Emmanuella was reportedly on her way back to school when the tragic incident happened.
A close friend of the deceased, Igbor Iorbo, who spoke to journalists in Makurdi, described the incident as heartbreaking and called for justice, Daily Trust reported.
“In the early hours of today, officers from ‘E’ Division shot and killed my friend, Emmanuella. We are not asking for much, just justice.
“The officers involved must be identified and subjected to a transparent investigation. Lives must not continue to be lost at the hands of those meant to protect us. This must stop,” Iorbo said.
In the same vein, a human rights and gender activist, Ukan Kurugh, has called on the police authorities not to sweep the matter under the carpet. This is as he expressed disappointment over the silence from the force over the incident.
“The police had not deemed it fit to address the matter since it happened early Friday,” he lamented.
The rights activist, however, threatened to led a protest if the alleged perpetrator was not named by the weekend.
He said, “There would be “a mother of all peaceful protest” in Makurdi,”
Attempts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Catherine Anene, for comments were unsuccessful. Calls and text messages also put across went unanswered as of the time of filing this report.
However, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Dr. Emenari Ifeanyi, has ordered a detailed investigation into the case. He assures friends and family of the deceased of his commitment to unravel the truth and ensure that the rule of law prevails.
source: Daily Trust