BENIN CITY – A trigger-happy police corporal who accidentally gunned down two nursing mothers at a funeral in Fugar town, the administrative headquarters of Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State last June, has been dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force.
Corporal Ali Christopher with Force No. 444040 was attached to the area Commander’s office, Auchi, the administrative headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State when the unfortunate incident occurred on Saturday, June 27, 2015.
His dismissal followed the outcome of Edo State Police Command’s Orderly Room Trial which found him culpable.
The Public Relations Officer for Edo Police Command, DSP Stephen Onwochei disclosed this to our crime correspondent while giving update of the case.
“That case has been thoroughly dealt with, two police officers were arrested, at the end of investigations, one officer was found to be culpable.
“That person has been tried in Orderly room, he is a corporal, and as I speak with you he has been dismissed.
“Hopefully by next week (this week) he shall appear in court”. DSP Onwochei stated.
He however advised police officers to be guided by Force Order 237 which spells out the use of arms by officers.
DSP Onwochei equally appealed to members of the public to always keep a reasonable distance from any officer bearing arms.
It would be recalled that a trigger-happy policeman reportedly gunned down two nursing mothers at a funeral in Ivhiokhile quarters in Fugar.
It was gathered that the police bullet narrowly missed a two-month-old baby strapped to the back of his mother before hitting a woman on her neck.
The NIGERIAN OBSERVER learnt that the woman identified as Sandra Imhaku lost her husband last year while expecting the baby as she alone cared for four children before her life was sniffed out by the trigger, that fateful Saturday.
Sources disclosed that Sandra Imhaku was rushed to Irrua Specialist Hospital, Irrua where she died the following day.
It was also reported that the other woman’ Mrs. Saliu, an indigene of Fugar came from Warri, Delta State with her husband to attend the funeral of her in-law’ one late Mr. Itu Joseph.
She was said to have collapsed and died instantly following the shooting.
The double tragedy struck when one of two policemen alleged to have accompanied a traditional ruler from Uzaire clan HRH. Imonike Omogbai who was a guest at the burial, started shooting sporadically for God’s-known-reason.
The NIGERIAN OBSERVER further reported that the shooting came to a tragic climax when the cop held the riffle with one hand, with the other hand, opened the door for the traditional ruler to enter his car as they were about leaving the funeral venue.
Sources, however, disclosed that the bullet from the riffle strayed and killed the two nursing mothers inside a canopy where they were seated among other guests at the burial ceremony.
Samuel Adegbuyi, Edo State Police Commissioner
