A heartbreaking incident unfolded in Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, as stray bullets from operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) reportedly claimed the life of a two-year-old child and left his sibling wounded. The unfortunate incident occurred during an NDLEA raid on a notorious drug joint in the area on Thursday. Sources revealed that the deceased child, Ivan Omhonria, and his younger sibling, Eromonsele, had just returned from school to their mother’s shop when they were struck by the stray bullets.
According to eyewitnesses, Ivan was hit in the abdomen, while the bullet grazed Eromonsele’s eye. The victims were swiftly rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Asaba for immediate medical attention, but tragically, Ivan could not survive the injuries sustained.
Confirming the incident, the State Commandant of the NDLEA, Mr. John Tunde, stated that his personnel did not intentionally open fire on the children, emphasizing their professionalism and the unlikelihood of firing at a shop. Tunde explained that during the raid, a Toyota Camry was parked nearby, and as his team sought to immobilize the vehicle, shots were fired in an attempt to stop it. However, he expressed uncertainty about whether the children were inside the car at the time of the shooting. Tunde further mentioned that one of his operatives was run over by the escaping vehicle, and the injured personnel was currently receiving treatment at the Central Hospital in Ogwashi-Uku.
The State Commandant visited the hospital in the evening, accompanying the child’s father. He stressed that their efforts to apprehend the driver of the vehicle were unsuccessful, as the individual managed to escape. The investigation into the tragic incident is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the exact circumstances that led to the unfortunate loss of a young life and the injury of another child.
