One Dead, Three Injured as Forest Guard’s Gun Accidentally Discharges In Osun

A tragic scene unfolded in Ilesa, Osun State, on Saturday when a forest guard allegedly fired live ammunition during a burial ceremony, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring three others.

The incident occurred in the Oke Ero area of Ilesa during a funeral party that quickly descended into chaos after the firearm discharge.

Eyewitnesses said the deceased, whose identity was yet to be officially released, was struck by a stray bullet when the operative reportedly fired into the crowd while performing a gun salute.

Confirming the development, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, SP Abiodun Ojelabi, said two suspects had been arrested in connection with the shooting. He noted that investigations had begun at the Command Headquarters in Osogbo.

Ojelabi stated, “One person was shot dead. The deceased is a 14-year-old. It happened at a funeral party in Ilesa. A guard was allegedly involved in the shooting. Three other people sustained injuries, but two of those injured were discharged from the hospital this morning. The two people arrested are in our custody, and the investigation is ongoing.”

Sources revealed that the guard responsible for the incident is an operative of the Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS). They added that the shooting appeared to be accidental, sparking panic among mourners.

Speaking on the matter, the Osun State Commander of the NFSS, Hammed Nureni, confirmed that the operative involved came from Plateau State and that the police had taken over the investigation.

Nureni described the event as a case of accidental discharge and appealed for calm while security agencies carry out a full inquiry.

“They came from Jos for a burial ceremony in Ilesa. From what I was told, the shooting occurred while the guards were performing a gun salute in honour of the deceased. The operative reportedly shot into the air, and while lowering the firearm, it discharged again, killing one person who was a relative of the person being buried,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the victims were rushed to the Wesley Guild Hospital in Ilesa, with one critically injured patient referred to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, for advanced care.