A 15-year-old girl has been hit by a stray bullet at a marriage ceremony in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
The incident which occurred on Saturday was as a result of an accidental discharge by an official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) drafted to provide security at the event.
Two NSCDC officials had joined other guests in the rush for food when one of their firearms discharged, sending the couple and other guest scampering for safety.
According to reports, one of the officers was able to redirect the nozzle to the ground to pump out the rest of the bullets. However, the fragments had already hit the girl who was close to the security operatives.
“At first, we thought it was the usual gunshots that security officials would fire during burial, wedding, and other ceremonies to keep the place lively. But when the young girl collapsed to the ground with blood spill, we discovered the devil was at work to kill our joy,” an anonymous source said.
An NSCDC spokesman confirmed the incident to newsmen, adding that the victim was in a very stable condition.
He assured that an official statement on the issue will be released very soon.
