Katsina: Policeman fatally shoots colleague while firing at protesters [Video]

In Katsina State, a police officer whose identity is unknown shot and killed one of his colleagues while directing his gunshots toward nonviolent demonstrators.

The dead officer is seen in videos shared by an X user on Friday, lying in a pool of blood while wearing his uniform following a gunshot wound from a colleague. 

An X user named A.O. Yusuf captioned the videos, saying, "In the height of unprofessionalism, a careless policeman killed his colleague and harmed civilians in Katsina."

Commenting on it, another user, Salako said, “This is a very sad & unfortunate watch.  It is also evident that the Nigerian Police Force is the cascading indices of violence in the ongoing protests.

“If this video evidence didn't exist, Ben Hundeyin & Muyiwa would have blamed it on protesters.

“A national squad of clowns.”

According to Sahara reporters, the State Police Spokesman, ASP Sadiq Aliyu, has not responded to comment on this event, and the police have not released a formal statement on it. 

He declined to confirm or refute the occurrence when approached by the aforementioned publication.

He responded, "Let me give you a callback." 

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, expressed regret for the deaths and injuries of police officers during Thursday's #EndBadGovernance demonstration.

Egbetokun said, “In light of the current situation, the Nigeria Police Force has placed all units on red alert. Our officers are fully mobilised and prepared to respond swiftly and decisively to public safety and order.”

“Police stations have been destroyed. There have been attempts to take over government houses. In places like FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, among others, we recorded incidents of unprovoked attacks on our security personnel where one policeman has been reported murdered and others seriously injured,” he added.

As the protest, however, enters day two, a 24-hour curfew has been implemented in Dutsinma LGA by the Katsina State government, according to a statement released on Friday by the state secretary, Abdullahi Garba-Faskar.

The state-wide declaration also outlawed strange gatherings and any forms of protest.

“The acting governor had earlier received a group of civil society organizations who were on a peaceful demonstration at the government house and pledged to deliver their messages to the appropriate authority,” the statement reads.

“However, later government received reports that some miscreants had hijacked the protest and unleashed their ulterior motives of shop breaking, looting and vandalisation of public and private properties.

“Therefore, the government found it necessary to impose these measures to safeguard people’s lives and properties in the state.”

The state police command's spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, stated: "We wish to dismiss the misinformation that police personnel shot live ammo at protesters, resulting in deaths."

"We want the public to know that our officers handled the violent protesters with the utmost professionalism and restraint."

Watch the video below: 

In the peak of unprofessionalism, a careless policeman killed his colleague and harm civilians in Katsina #EndBadGovernaceInNigeria pic.twitter.com/f4s0NJiacK

— A.O.Yusuf of Sokoto (@DEGEO7) August 2, 2024