Stray Bullet From Police Operatives Kill Young Boy During Protest In Abuja

Stray Bullet From Police Operatives Kill Young Boy During Protest In Abuja

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja 

A young boy has been killed by a stray bullet fired by police operatives in the Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), during the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests.

The incident occurred on Saturday, as the protests entered its third day, with eyewitnesses stating that the boy was not participating in the demonstrations but was merely passing by when the police fired at protesters.

According to eyewitnesses, the police officers deployed to maintain order and security during the protests, opened fire on protesters to disperse them, resulting in the stray bullet hitting the young boy who was observing the protests from a distance.

“It was a tragic moment,” an eyewitness described. “The boy was shot at close range, despite not being involved in the demonstrations. He was just coming by when the police fired at us.”

The deceased boy’s name has not been established, and his family has yet to be notified.

Human Rights activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, condemned the shooting as an act of “unprovoked murder,” calling for Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and his officers to be held accountable for the murder of the innocent young boy.

“This is an act of unprovoked murder. IGP Kayode Egbetokun and his bloodthirsty men should be held accountable for the murder of this innocent young boy, who was simply observing the protest,” Adeyanju lamented.

The killing brings to 18 the number of people killed during the protests, which have been marred by police killings and violence by mobs across the country.

The Nigerian military had warned it would step in if the protest snowballed into an overwhelming situation for the police, while human rights groups including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and HURIWA have condemned the police’s excessive use of force.

Religious leaders have also joined in condemning the violence and calling for peaceful resolution to the crisis.

The protest organizers have called for economic and political reforms, as well as an end to hunger, bad governance, and high cost of living.