Nationwide Protest; Officer accidentally shoots himself while trying to disperse crowd
Borno State has on Thursday experienced a tragic incident when an immigration officer accidentally shot himself while attempting to manage a protest in Maiduguri, the state capital.
The officer, whose identity has not been released, was part of a joint security team comprising police, military, immigration, DSS, and civil defense forces.
He was stationed at the Bulumkutu rail junction, monitoring the protesters, when his rifle accidentally discharged, injuring him in the leg.
The protest was aimed at expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the Boko Haram insurgency, economic challenges, hunger, and the removal of fuel subsidies. Security forces were present to control the situation at the junction.
This incident has raised concerns about the training and safety protocols for security personnel in the state. With recent tensions escalating, there are calls for enhanced security measures.
Although civil society groups had initially vowed not to join the Borno protest, this event could influence the dynamics and possibly lead to a de-escalation of tensions.
The officer has been taken to a local hospital, and his current condition is not yet known.
