Owerri: Mother, baby feared dead, scores injured as security operatives exchange gunfire

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A mother and her two-year-old child were feared dead, yesterday, while several others got injured following an exchange of gunfire between some security operatives at Wetheral by Fire Service Junction, Owerri, capital of Imo State.

Spokesperson for Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, was yet to respond to messages sent to him at press time.

But an eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Eze, told The Guardian that suspected officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) arrived in the area in their vehicle and opened fire, resulting in stray bullets hitting the baby and mother.

The witness, who could not identify the sex of the baby, told The Guardian, the child was immediately taken to the hospital, while others at the ever-busy junction ran away, but some got injured during the process.

The witness dismissed the rumour that the operatives were unknown gunmen.

He said: “We were here when some security men came. The one on NSCDC uniform opened fire and the bullet hit the little kid with the mother. It happened today, Monday. After the incident, some persons were injured and others ran away from the scene in fear.”