A routine police patrol in Minna, Niger State, took a tragic turn when a female immigration officer, Assistant Superintendent of Immigration (ASI) Christian Oladimeji, was accidentally shot amid an attack on law enforcement officers.
The incident, which unfolded on February 21, 2025, at about 12:30 p.m., saw a Surveillance Patrol Team from the ‘A’ Division Police Command, led by ASP Ibrahim Audu Paiko, attempting to recover suspected stolen materials near the Obasanjo Complex before chaos erupted.
According to intelligence sources, the patrol officers spotted seven road construction workers carrying iron rods suspected to be stolen. On seeing the police, the men abandoned the materials and fled.
However, as the officers attempted to secure the stolen items, they were ambushed by an angry mob, including other road construction workers and hoodlums, who pelted them with stones and other objects, severely damaging the Dangote Patrol Vehicle.
In the ensuing pandemonium, ASP Audu, in a desperate attempt to disperse the violent crowd and avoid being overrun, fired a shot—unintentionally hitting ASI Christian Oladimeji, who was passing by on a motorcycle.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgent expert, the bullet struck Oladimeji’s lap, causing her to lose control of her motorcycle and crash, leading to additional injuries.
She was rushed to the IBB Specialist Hospital in Minna, where doctors confirmed that while no bullet fragments remained in her body, she suffered a waist fracture.
Several suspects have since been detained for questioning, while authorities have initiated disciplinary action against the officers involved.
Security agencies have urged residents to remain calm, assuring that investigations are ongoing to ensure justice and accountability in the tragic incident.
