Tragedy struck in Delta state on Thursday when a 2-year-old baby identified as Ivan Onose Omhonrina, was shot dead and his younger brother, Eromonsele, injured when men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) raided a deadly drug joint in the State.
News Band gathered that the kids were shot at their mother’s shop when operatives of the anti-narcotic agency stormed a drug joint at Okpanam in Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state.
According to an eyewitness account, the victims were in their mother’s shop after school hours when they were hit by the stray bullets.
The witness said a stray bullet brushed Eromonsele on the eye while Ivan was hit on his stomach.
It further said that the victims were rushed to the FMC for surgery but Ivan unfortunately kicked the bucket.
Meanwhile, Delta State Commandant of the NDLEA, Mr. John Tunde, who confirmed the unfortunate incident, however, insisted that his men did not open fire on the kids.
Tunde explained that when the operatives of the command invaded the drug joint to raid and dislodge the criminal elements, there was a Toyota Camry parked within the area.
He said, while the operatives were surrounding the place, a Camry car “ran over one of our men while escaping. And in attempts to demobilise the car, our men shot at it.
“What we cannot tell now is whether the children were inside the car at the time of the shooting. Our men did not open fire at any shop. As we speak now, our man, who the car ran over is at the Central Hospital in Ogwashi-Uku,” he stated.
“Our attempt to stop the car was not successful as he escaped. So I can confirm that it happened but this is the true account that I have told you, we can’t be that unprofessional to open fire on a shop. I was at the hospital in the night with the father of the child. We are investigating it.”