A Nigerian police officer, identified as Inspector Abass, has been arrested in Abuja following the accidental shooting and death of a civilian while he was intoxicated.
The incident occurred when the officer, reportedly from the Mobile Police (MOPOL) 50 unit, fell into a drain while heavily intoxicated. The fall resulted in the accidental discharge of his service firearm, fatally injuring an unidentified individual.
Sources within the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja confirmed the arrest.
“One officer got drunk, fell into a gutter, and fired his gun. The officer’s name is Abass. The officer has been locked inside a cell at FCID in Abuja. The female officer who brought him in said the officer was drunk; he had fallen into a gutter and accidentally shot someone,” a source stated.
The source further revealed that the female officer who apprehended Abass described him as a habitual drunkard. Concerns were also raised regarding the lack of mental health support within the Nigerian Police Force.
“The NPF does not care about the mental health of its officers. Some officers need psychiatric evaluation or assessment, while others require rehabilitation, social orientation, reorientation, psychotherapy, etc.,” the source added.
Despite multiple attempts to contact Nigerian Police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi, he did not respond to calls or messages seeking comment on the incident
