A 3-year old girl, Esther Samuel, has been shot dead by a 13-year-old boy, Ope Babalola in Ogun State.
The small boy reportedly took the life of the minor with a dane gun which belonged to one Semiu Adegesin.
The tragic incident occurred in Kukudi village in Imasayi, Yewa North Local government area of the state.
The spokesperson of the state police command, Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed the sad development to newsmen.
He said Adegesin, the owner of the gun had been arrested for “contributory negligence.”
He also confirmed the arrest of the 45-year-old suspect after the report was brought to the Imasayi divisional headquarters of the police.
“Upon the information, the divisional police officer, Imasayi, SP Arowojeun Michael, quickly led his detectives to the scene where the deceased was seen in a pool of her blood.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, Semiu Adegesin, loaded his dane gun and carelessly kept it in an open place at the backyard of the house where children used to play.
“It was there that the 13-year-old Ope Babalola picked the loaded gun, pointed it at the deceased and pulled the trigger.
“She was quickly taken to the General Hospital, Ilaro, where she was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.
“The owner of the dane gun was promptly arrested and taken to the station for interrogation,” Oyeyemi said.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, according to the police spokesperson has ordered the transfer of the case to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department for investigation.
The CP referred to the incident as unfortunate and sent message of sympathy to the family of the deceased.
He appealed to members of the public to be calm and necessary investigation would be conducted into the matter.
Mba, who described the incident as unfortunate, sympathised with the deceased’s family and appealed for calm as the case would be investigated.
