- A 14 year old boy was accidentally shot dead during a funeral party in Ilesa, Osun State, after a security operative fired live rounds into the crowd.
- The incident happened in the Oke Ero area, throwing guests into panic as the event ended abruptly.
- Two suspects have been arrested by the Osun State Police Command, which confirmed that an investigation is underway.
- The Nigerian Forest Security Service said the shooting was accidental and urged for calm as authorities continue their probe.
A funeral ceremony in Ilesa, Osun State, turned into a scene of tragedy on Saturday when a 14 year old boy was killed by a stray bullet allegedly fired by a security operative during the event.
The incident occurred in the Oke Ero area of Ilesa, where mourners had gathered for a burial ceremony that quickly descended into chaos after the accidental shooting. Eyewitnesses said the guard, who was reportedly part of the security team at the event, fired live rounds into the air, and one of the bullets struck the teenager.
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Confirming the incident, Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, stated that two suspects had been taken into custody as part of the investigation. “One person was shot dead. The deceased is a 14-year-old. It happened at a funeral party in Ilesa. A guard was allegedly involved in the shooting. Three others were injured, but two have been discharged from the hospital,” he said.
Ojelabi added that the case had been transferred to the command headquarters in Osogbo for further investigation, assuring that the suspects would face justice once inquiries are concluded.
According to sources, the guard involved in the shooting was identified as an operative of the Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS). Witnesses at the scene described the gunfire as accidental but said it caused widespread panic among attendees.
When contacted, Hammed Nureni, Commander of the Osun State NFSS, confirmed that the operative responsible was from Plateau State and had been handed over to the police for investigation. He explained that the shooting occurred while the security team performed a gun salute in honour of the deceased being buried.
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“They came from Jos for the burial ceremony. From what I was told, the guard fired into the air as part of the gun salute. Unfortunately, when bringing down the weapon, it discharged again, killing a relative of the person being honoured,” Nureni said, describing the incident as a case of accidental discharge.
He appealed to the public to remain calm while a thorough investigation is carried out by security agencies to determine what led to the fatal shooting
