A shocking incident of friendly fire has occurred in Abia State, south-east Nigeria, where police officers reportedly opened fire on each other after mistaking themselves for members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The incident took place on Wednesday in the Alaoji area of Aba, the commercial hub of the state.
According to eyewitnesses, the shootout occurred between police patrol teams from the Police Area Command in Aba and another team from Umuahia, the state capital. The operatives from Umuahia were allegedly operating in commercial buses, leading their colleagues from Aba to mistake them for IPOB members.
The confusion led to a fierce exchange of gunfire, causing shop owners and passersby to scramble for safety. Unfortunately, a truck driver was killed by a stray bullet during the encounter.
An altercation ensued after the operatives realized they were all police officers. The police authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
While the police spokesperson, Maureen Chinaka, denied that the officers mistook each other for IPOB members, she confirmed that a shooting occurred, resulting in the death of a civilian. She urged anyone with useful information to report to the police to aid their ongoing investigation.
The incident has raised concerns about the level of coordination and communication among police operatives in the state, particularly in the context of the ongoing security challenges in the south-east region.
