A tragic incident occurred in Plateau State when a policeman accidentally shot and killed his colleague at Terminus Market in Jos on Wednesday.
The two officers were part of the enforcement team of the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), tasked with regulating street trading in the area.
According to eyewitness Ibrahim Musa, the fatal accident happened when a stray bullet from one of the security personnel hit the deceased officer during patrol.
An anonymous market official confirmed that the shooting was an accidental discharge by the officer’s colleague.
The market official explained, “At approximately 12 o’clock on Wednesday, security personnel were in pursuit of traders when, unexpectedly, an officer mistakenly discharged his firearm, fatally hitting the policeman in the neck.
“Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries instantly. Shortly after, officials from the Road Safety Corps arrived to transport the deceased officer’s body to a nearby hospital.”
The incident caused significant tension in the area, leading to the use of tear gas by security forces to disperse the gathered crowd.
Alabo Alfred, the spokesperson for the state police command, confirmed that investigations into the incident were ongoing.
This incident echoes a similar tragedy in December 2024, when Inspector Nelson Abuante of the Rivers State Police Command committed suicide after accidentally shooting his colleague, Monday Gbaramana.
The incident happened during an attempted arrest, and Gbaramana’s death occurred when their transport vehicle ran out of fuel en route to the hospital, prompting Abuante to take his own life upon realizing his colleague had died.
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