A 10-year old boy has reportedly shot his friend dead, using his grandfather’s gun at Otuan community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The incident happened when the boy stumbled on the gun, where it was hidden when his elder sister asked him to go and fetch a cutlass to break oeen a bush mango otherwise known as ‘Ogbono’ from their father’s room.
The boy, who reportedly saw the gun, picked it and shot his 12-year old friend, who had accompanied into the room.
A resident, who did not want his name mentioned, said: “The boy’s father, a pastor and his grandfather, who owns the gun, were not in town when the incident happened.
“The boy’s sister sent her brother to fetch a cutlass from their father’s room for her to split open the bush mango after returning from the bush where they had gone to pick bush mango otherwise known as ‘Ogbono.’
“But the boy, who was joined by his friend to go and get the cutlass, stumbled on the gun where it was hidden. He picked up the weapon and trained it on his friend. As the deceased shouted at the friend to drop the gun, it fired, hitting him.
“The fatally injured boy was rushed to a nearby chemist in the community, accompanied by his heartbroken friend who was wailing when somebody whispered to him to run for his life.”
The spokesman of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, could not confirm the incident to newsmen, saying: “It has not been reported to the police yet, but we will find out if such an incident happened.”
