A 12-year-old boy and his grandmother have been shot by a police officer in Niger State.
Daily Report Nigeria reports that the officer attached to Rijau Divisional Office perpetrated the act on Sunday at the Sale Mai Agogo Palliative distribution centre in Rijau Local Council of Niger State.
The 12-year-old boy identified as Sani Danlami, and his grandmother, Nna, were shot during a tussle for palliatives in the community.
The police officer deployed had shot in the air to disperse the crowd but a stray bullet hit Danlami, and his grandmother on their right hands, who were just heading to the centre.
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They were in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp at Inana village.
Confirming the Palliatives Distribution Committee Chairman in charge of Rijau Local Council, Dr. Tukur Bello, said the incident was accidental.
Bello, who is also the state’s Commissioner in the Ministry of Primary and Tertiary Health care, said the victims were rushed to a nearby clinic for an emergency medical attention before the boy, who sustained serious injuries, was later referred to the Ibrahim Badamosi Babaginda (IBB) Specialist Hospital in Minna for further medical care.
He added that the shooting was preempted by hoodlums who invaded the unit and carted away some of the items.
He said: “We rushed them to one of the clinics for emergency medical attention, the grandmother who sustained minor injury was treated and discharged.
“Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, on receiving the information, had directed that everything possible should be done to save their lives and ensure that the victims get full medical attention.
Bello also confirmed that the defaulting officer has been taken into custody for investigation.