NDLEA’s stray bullet

The reason may in part be located in the frequency of such incidents which has seemingly inflicted in the psyche of citizens the feeling that they now constitute the rule than an exception. The cavalier handling of previous incidents by those in authority may also have dampened any optimism that those fingered in inexcusable fatal shootings would in verity, be made to account for their acts of indiscretion.

But one of such unfortunate killings that could neither escape the prying eyes of the public nor key government officials was the recent death of a two-year old Ivan Omhonrina and the injuring of his younger sibling by a stray bullet fired by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

Reports had it that the two school children who were taking snacks in their mother’s shop at Okpanam in the Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State after being dropped off by their father were suddenly hit by a stray bullet fired by NDLEA operatives pursuing some drug suspects said to be operating in the area.

The father of the children, Fidelis Omhonrina gave a very touching account of the incident. He had just dropped off the school children and left for his business when his wife called him to come back as the intestines of Ivan were coming out and their other child had shards of glasses all over him. Before he could turn back, he got another call asking him to proceed to the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba.

But he rather opted to visit her wife’s shop to ascertain what actually happened. Nobody was prepared to open up to him until someone told him of how some NDLEA officials were chasing drug sellers. He later saw officials of the agency in their vehicles fully armed coming towards the house still looking for other people that were running. It was then that someone came behind him and whispered that ‘NDLEA officials shot my son’.

Armed with that mortal piece of information, Fidelis went to one of the officials and confronted him with the sad story. But he did not listen to him. The confused father of the children then brought out his phone to record the incident but was quickly confronted by another official who cocked his gun threatening him to surrender the phone else. But he refused after all, “they had already killed my son and there was no bigger harm they could inflict on me”.

At that point, one of the NDLEA officials in the Sienna car came down to inquire what the matter was all about. “I told them they killed my son” He signalled others, they quickly jumped into their vehicles and fled. Fidelis said he also entered his own car and pursued them. A trending video showed a vehicle pursuing the NDLEA officials shouting: “They killed my son, NDLEA killed my son”.

Apparently rattled by the desperation and helplessness of the grieving father, the officials stopped along the way and asked why he was following them. He again told them that they killed his son and they started to beg him that the incident was not intentional.

He was later taken to their boss before he proceeded to the hospital where doctors battled to save Ivan’s life but he succumbed to the cold hands of death. His sibling was a bit lucky as doctors were able to stabilize him after removing debris of glass lodged in his eyes. That was the sad story of the Omhonrinas.

Either on account of the age of the toddlers or the circumstance of the shooting, the incident attracted the attention of the high and mighty. President Tinubu has waded into the matter, condemning it in very strong terms. He has also directed the management of the NDLEA to speedily and thoroughly investigate the incident with a view to punishing those who foisted agony on the innocent family.

But the House of Representatives which equally condemned the killing would rather have the Inspector General of Police IGP take over the investigations, prosecute all those involved in the shooting that killed the boy and ensure justice for the family.

 There have been other high level reactions to the incident including that from the Delta State governor. It is good a thing this singular incident has aroused the consciousness of the country to the mortal danger stray bullets pose to the lives of the citizenry. Hopefully, this particular killing will not be swept under the carpet just like many before it. So the Omhonrina family may after all get justice as all those behind the unfortunate incident are made to pay for their acts of indiscretion.

But no amount of compensation or punishment to the offending officers will bring Ivan back to life. No amount of compensation will suffice to wipe off the sorrows inflicted on the young family by the way and manner the toddler was sent to his early grave. That is the uncanny irony the situation presents. And that is why the scourge of stray bullets or its twin sister-accidental discharge has to be avoided like a plague.

But the new disposition will send a bold signal to law enforcement agencies on the inelasticity of public temperament with the frequency of such avoidable killings. It should instruct strict adherence to the rules of engagement in such matters. The point would have been made and very clearly too that those who shoot indiscriminately without regard to the incalculable harm they entail, will henceforth be made to face the music. That appears the message elevated to the fore by the interest of the presidency in the incident.

But this killing is just one out of the litany of such cases that dot the entire landscape. A couple of weeks ago, 17-year old Ibuchim Ofezie was killed in his shop by a stray bullet fired by operatives of the Nigerian Police in Jos, Plateau State. The policemen who were enforcing the ban on commercial motorcycles had stormed the terminus market chasing those operating there.

They allegedly shot sporadically and their bullet killed Ibuchim right inside his shop. Though five of the police men involved in the shooting were arrested but that may be the last the public will hear of the incident.

 A 24-year old man, Idris Jagun also lost his life to similar incident in the Oregun area of Lagos State. He died of bullet wounds he sustained when the police fired into a fighting crowd in a bid to disperse them. These are just a few of recent cases of the harm wrought on the lives of innocent citizens by the scourge of stray bullets. But they underscore the gravity and deadly nature of the challenge.

That is why the new awareness raised by the intervention of the presidency must be sustained. But it remains doubtful if the offending law enforcement agencies are in a proper stead to investigate and do justice to infractions arising from the misconduct of their men in the performance of their duties.

There is subsisting public doubt that the police for instance, will be impartial when investigating such cases involving their men given their very nature. The same applies to other law enforcement agencies including the NDLEA if they are now to investigate, bring their men to face the raw teeth of the law and ensure justice for the aggrieved.

If we are desirous to discourage the frequency of stray bullets fired indiscriminately by law enforcement agencies, we must take away investigations in such cases from the very agencies whose officials are being probed. That will make for impartiality and ensure the aggrieved families receive justice. The government could consider inter agency panels for such investigations.

But it appears the laws setting up these law enforcement organizations do not permit of such. And that is where the real problem lies. The conduct of the NDLEA officials when they were told they just killed an innocent child left much to be desired. They were callous as they showed no sympathy initially to the grieving father of the boy. They may be doing well in the fight against banned drugs. But they should not allow overzealousness on the part of some of their officials to mar whatever progress they have made.

One of them even had the temerity to cock his gun threatening to shoot him. On display were evidences of poor training in appropriate use of firearms, disrespect for human rights and amateurism in conflict de-escalation techniques. But for the fact that Fidelis risked his life pursuing them, they may have even disappeared into the thin air or come out later with spurious excuses.

Fidelis was even lucky that he came out alive. If he had such encounter with some other organs of law enforcement, the story may have been different. He may not even live to tell the story. That is how bad such situations have become. If the high level interest shown in this singular case will bring sanity to the wanton killing of innocent citizens by stray bullets, Ivan would not have died in vain. May the soul of the poor child find peace in God’s bosom!

Peoplesmind