Boy Shoots Toddler Dead as Police Arrest Owner of Gun for Negligence
Tragedy struck in Kukudi Village, in the Imasayi area of Ogun State on Friday, when a 13-year-old boy identified as Ope Babalola shot a three years old girl, Esther Samuel to death with a dane gun.
The Police said it has arrested one Semiu Adegesin, whose “contributory negligence” led to the death of Esther, after he carelessly left his gun where the boy found it.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the 45-year-old suspect was apprehended following a report that was lodged at Imasayi Divisional Headquarters about the incident.
“Upon the information, the DPO Imasayi division, SP Arowojeun Michael, quickly led his detectives to the scene where the deceased was met in the pool of her own blood.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect Semiu Adegesin loaded his dane gun, and carelessly kept it in an open place at the backyard of the house where children used to play.
“It was there the 13-year old Ope Babalola picked the loaded gun, pointed it at the deceased and pulled the trigger.
The deceased was quickly taken to General Hospital Ilaro, where she was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.
The owner of the dane gun was promptly arrested and taken to the station for interrogation”, the statement further read.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Frank Mba, who described the incident as unfortunate, sympathised with the deceased’s family and appealed for calm as the case will be properly investigated.
The CP directed that the case be transferred to Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Departments for discreet investigation.
