A tragic domestic incident rocked the city of Awka, Anambra State, on Sunday, when a 10-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed his father, a serving police officer, with an AK-47 rifle assigned to the officer.
The deceased, identified as Inspector Okolie Amechi, was fatally struck by a bullet discharged from his service weapon, which the young boy had reportedly been handling without understanding its danger. The incident also left the inspector’s second son, Emmanuel, injured after the same bullet hit him in the hand.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the firearm had been kept within the household when the boy, allegedly playing with it, unintentionally pulled the trigger. The bullet struck Inspector Amechi in the back, leading to fatal injuries. Both victims were rushed to a nearby hospital, where the officer was confirmed dead by medical personnel. Emmanuel is currently receiving treatment and is said to be in stable condition.
Confirming the incident in a statement on Monday, the Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, described the event as a deeply saddening loss for the Command.
“The incident, which occurred on the evening of June 15, 2025, was caused by an accidental discharge involving the Inspector’s 10-year-old son,” Ikenga said. “While fondling the AK-47 rifle assigned to his father, the child inadvertently pulled the trigger, striking the Inspector fatally and injuring his sibling.”
SP Ikenga added that the rifle had been recovered and the remains of the deceased deposited in the mortuary. He expressed the Command’s condolences to the bereaved family and assured the public that further developments would be communicated in due course.
This tragic event comes just weeks after another violent episode in the state, when gunmen attacked a police checkpoint along Omata-Nnobi Road in Nnewi. During the ambush, a police officer reportedly a driver attached to one of the patrol vehicles was killed, and an explosive device was used by the attackers to further escalate the violence.
The Anambra Police Command continues to grapple with security concerns while mourning the loss of one of its own under such heartbreaking circumstances.
