Labourer dies from stray bullet in Ebonyi’s police-soldier clash

A Labourer who got hit by a stray bullet in a clash between policemen and a soldier in Ebonyi State, has died.

The Commissioner of Police, Adaku Uche-Anya, confirmed the incident on Wednesday.

It was gathered that the unfortunate incident happened on Wednesday morning in Ugwuachara village in the Ebonyi Local Government Area of the state.

According to report, the deceased labourer was hit by a stray bullet when the policemen allegedly tried to disarm the soldier who was on mufti.

Three others also sustained injuries in the clash between the soldier who was on a bike and policemen on a ‘stop and search’ duty.

The State Commissioner of Police, who confirmed the incident, stated that the policemen were on a stop-and-search patrol and stopped the soldier who was on a motorcycle to search him which caused a scuffle between him and the policemen in the process.

She disclosed that the identity of the soldier has been confirmed, adding that he is a supposed to be serving in Operation Kachayanma in Kaduna, but was on a pass in Ebonyi State.

She stated, “The soldier was trying to disarm one of the policemen and the bullet went off and hit a bystander who was there. It was not as if the policemen opened fire on bystanders. What happened was that during the scuffle, the bullet went off and hit the bystander.

“One person died and three injured but they are responding to treatment in the hospital.

“We have confirmed the identity of the soldier, he is a soldier serving in Kaduna. Both the soldier and the policemen are in our custody.”