10-year-old accidentally shoots Police Inspector in Anambra

A tragic case of accidental discharge has claimed the life of a Nigerian police officer, Inspector Okolie Amechi, after he was accidentally shot by his 10-year-old son at their residence in Awka, Anambra State on Sunday, June 15, 2025.

The unfortunate incident, confirmed by the Anambra State Police Command on Monday, occurred when the child, unaware that his father’s AK-47 rifle was loaded and active, pulled the trigger, fatally striking the officer and injuring his younger sibling.

In a statement released by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the young boy was said to have accessed the rifle, which was assigned to the inspector, and mistakenly discharged it inside their home.

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“The son, unaware of the state of the AK-47 rifle assigned to the Inspector, pulled the trigger and struck the Inspector on the back and his second child on the hand,” Ikenga explained.

Inspector Amechi was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead by medical personnel. The second child, who suffered a gunshot injury to the hand, is currently receiving treatment and is reported to be responding well.

The police spokesperson confirmed that the AK-47 rifle involved in the incident has since been recovered and secured as part of ongoing investigations. The police command also assured that a thorough internal inquiry will be conducted to determine how a loaded service weapon was left within reach of a child in a residential setting.

“The Command, while wishing the second victim a quick recovery, condoles with the family and friends of the late Inspector,” Ikenga stated, describing the tragedy as deeply regrettable.

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The incident has sparked renewed concern about firearm safety and handling protocols within the Nigeria Police Force, particularly in domestic environments.

Security experts and civil society groups have repeatedly urged law enforcement agencies to review guidelines on the storage and accessibility of service weapons, especially in homes where children are present.

Speaking with reporters, security analyst Chidi Nwosu stressed the importance of routine training on firearm handling and home safety. “It is a basic principle that no loaded weapon should ever be left unattended, especially in a household setting,” he said. “This is not just a tragic loss—it is a preventable one.”

Another rights advocate, Amaka Obi, called on the Nigeria Police to immediately update its operational code to enforce stricter controls on service weapons at officers’ residences. “We need to prioritize lives, especially those of family members, when officers return home with weapons.”

The death of Inspector Okolie Amechi casts a dark shadow over the police community in Anambra and serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of improper firearm storage.

The Anambra State Police Command says it is reviewing its internal safety guidelines to prevent such tragedies in the future.

The late inspector’s remains have been deposited at the morgue pending further investigations, while family members and colleagues mourn what has been described as a “heart-wrenching loss of a father, officer, and protector.”