A tragic incident occurred in Awka, the Anambra State capital, on Sunday, when a 10-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed his father, a Police Inspector, identified as Okolie Amechi, with the officer’s service AK-47 rifle.
It was gathered on Monday that the bullet also hit the officer’s second son, Emmanuel, in the hand, in a chaotic scene that occurred due to accidental discharge at the deceased’s residence.
The boy was said to be fondling the AK-47 rifle assigned to the police officer, when he mistakenly pulled the trigger and the bullet struck the officer on the back and also hit his sibling on the hand.
The incident had thrown the Anambra State Police Command into deep sorrow and mourning.
Confirming the incident in a press statement, the spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the officer was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty at a hospital he was rushed to, while the second victim was responding to treatment.
Ikenga said, “The Anambra State Police Command has expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident that resulted in the death of Police Inspector Okolie Amechi in Awka.
“The incident, which occurred on the evening of June 15, 2025, was allegedly due to an accidental discharge by his 10-year-old son.
The boy, unaware of the state of the AK-47 rifle assigned to the Inspector, pulled the trigger and struck the Inspector on the back and his second child on the hand.
“Regrettably, Inspector Amechi was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty at the hospital, while the second victim was said to be responding to treatment.”
According to him, the AK-47 rifle has been recovered while the remains of the deceased have been deposited in the morgue.
“The command while wishing the second victim a quick recovery, condoles with the family and friends of the late Inspector. Further developments would be communicated accordingly, please,” he added.
It was reported in August 2024 that gunmen attacked a police checkpoint beside the Nnobi Police Station, in the Idemili South Local Government Area of the state.
The attack came barely three weeks after some gunmen attacked a police checkpoint on Omata-Nnobi Road in Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area of the state, during which one police officer was also gunned down by the hoodlums, who also used an explosive device to launch the attack.
A source in the area said during the attack, one of the policemen was killed, adding that the deceased police officer was the driver of one of the police vehicles.
©The Punch