In a shocking turn of events, a Nigerian police officer shot and injured an immigration officer during a patrol operation in Minna, Niger State, on Friday. The victim, Assistant Superintendent of Immigration (ASI) Christian Oladimeji, was caught in the crossfire while passing by on a motorcycle, sustaining serious injuries.
The incident unfolded when a police patrol team from the ‘A’ Division Police Command in Minna, led by ASP Ibrahim Audu Paiko, was attacked by hoodlums while attempting to recover suspected stolen materials near the Obasanjo Complex.
According to sources who spoke to SaharaReporters, the patrol team had spotted a group of road construction workers carrying iron rods suspected to have been stolen. However, as the officers approached, the workers abandoned the materials and fled. Suddenly, another group of workers, allegedly reinforced by hoodlums, launched a violent attack on the officers, pelting them with stones and other objects, and damaging a police patrol vehicle.
In an attempt to escape the hostile mob, ASP Audu fired a shot, which tragically struck ASI Oladimeji on the lap. The force of the impact also caused her to fall from the motorcycle, worsening her injuries.
She was immediately rushed to the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) Specialist Hospital in Minna, where doctors confirmed she had sustained a waist fracture. Fortunately, no bullet fragments were found lodged in her body.
Confirming the incident, the Niger State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, stated that the police officer responsible had been arrested and placed under detention for disciplinary action.
“On February 21, 2025, at about 12:30 PM, a police surveillance team from ‘A’ Division Minna was on a patrol operation around the Obasanjo Complex when they sighted some road construction workers with suspected stolen iron rods. Upon sighting the officers, the workers abandoned the materials and fled.
“As the police team attempted to evacuate the suspected stolen items, they were suddenly attacked by other reinforced workers and public urchins armed with stones and other offensive weapons. Their patrol vehicle was vandalized, and in an attempt to escape the mob, the team leader fired a shot, which unfortunately struck a female immigration officer passing by on a motorcycle.
“The injured officer was immediately taken to the Specialist Hospital, Minna, for medical attention. Meanwhile, the police officer responsible has been arrested, and an investigation is underway,” Abiodun stated.
This latest shooting comes at a time of rising tensions in Minna, following a recent protest over escalating food prices, which led to the arrest of 25 individuals. The authorities have urged residents to remain calm while security agencies work to restore order and prevent further unrest.
The incident has sparked public outrage, with many calling for greater accountability and restraint in law enforcement operations to prevent innocent citizens from becoming casualties in chaotic encounters.
PIONEER NEWS 