Inspector shoots self dead in Lagos

The atmosphere at the Mobile Police Force 20, in the Ikeja
area of Lagos, had been tense since Tuesday after a police
inspector, identified simply as Medugwu, mistakenly shot
himself dead, while adjusting a faulty rifle.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the inspector, who was attached to
MOPOL 20, was the second-in-command to the armourer.
He was said to have accidentally pulled the trigger of the
rifle, which sent a bullet to his jaw.
Our correspondent gathered that on Tuesday, at about
10am, a policeman had brought the faulty rifle to
Medugwu to examine and readjust for him.
It was learnt that the second-in-command to the
armourer collected the rifle, and tried to find out where
the fault was. The rifle was said to have been fired in the
process.
Other policemen in the area were said to have rushed to the
scene and taken Medugwu to the Lagos State University
Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.
The inspector, however, died at about 1pm in the hospital.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro, a policeman, who claimed to be
an eyewitness, said Medugwu accidentally turned the
barrel of the rifle on himself during the check, before his
finger touched the trigger.
He added that the inspector died as a result of severe
injuries sustained from the gunshot.
He said, “He was the second-in-command at the armoury
in the MOPOL 20. A policeman brought a faulty rifle to his
office to examine. While he was doing that, he mistakenly
turned the barrel of the gun on himself, and he mistakenly
pulled the trigger.
“We rushed him to LASUTH, where the medical personnel
battled to save his life. But, he died at about 1pm. His head
was badly injured. Medugwu’s death shook all of us.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Patricia
Amadin, confirmed the death of Medugwu via a text
message.