Teen accidentally shoots friend dead with father’s gun in Niger

A 16-year-old boy, Emmanuel Danladi, has allegedly shot and killed his 15-year-old friend, Titus Joseph, while playing with a loaded dane gun belonging to his father in Kwamba, Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.

The tragic incident occurred on March 1 at Emmanuel’s residence, where the two teenagers were said to be playing.

According to reports, Emmanuel picked up the fully loaded gun owned by his father, Danladi Baba, a member of a local vigilante group, and accidentally fired it at close range. The shot struck Titus in the stomach, causing fatal injuries.

Police operatives from the Maje Division responded to the report and moved to the scene, where the victim’s body was evacuated to the General Hospital in Suleja.

Following the incident, Emmanuel and his father were arrested on allegations of negligence and culpable homicide. The dane gun used in the shooting was also recovered as evidence.

Both suspects and the recovered weapon were later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna for further investigation.

The spokesman of the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday, adding that the case is currently under investigation and will be prosecuted accordingly.