A tragic incident has left a family in deep mourning after a 20-month-old boy was reportedly killed by a stray bullet in the Umuoba-Uratta community of Owerri North Local Government Area, Imo State.
The incident occurred at about 10:00 p.m. on Monday, when an unidentified bullet pierced through the residence of the Eleweke family, striking the toddler fatally as he lay on the bed beside his mother.
Narrating the heartbreaking ordeal to journalists, the boy’s mother, Mrs. Kelechi Eleweke, said she was with her son when she heard a loud bang, followed by the sensation of sand-like particles on her skin.
“My son suddenly started screaming, calling out ‘Mummy! Mummy!’ Blood was all over his body and the bed. I didn’t know what had happened until I saw the wound,” she recounted tearfully.
In a desperate bid to save the boy’s life, the family rushed him to a nearby hospital. However, they were met with shocking resistance.
“A man who appeared to be a medical practitioner refused to treat my son. He insisted that we must provide a police report first. Even as I begged for help, all he did was put a plaster around the child’s head and told us to go to the Federal Medical Centre in Owerri,” Mrs. Eleweke alleged.
According to the child’s father, Mr. Okechukwu Eleweke, the boy was still breathing when they left the private hospital. He managed to secure a vehicle to take them to FMC Owerri, but the child passed away just before they entered the emergency ward.
“The doctor on duty examined him immediately but said it was too late. He was confirmed dead on arrival,” Mr. Eleweke said.
The grieving father said he only learned the next morning that there had been sporadic gunfire in the area on the night of the incident. He believes the fatal bullet may have originated from that episode, though the identity of those responsible remains unclear.
“Our neighbours said there were people firing gunshots for over 30 minutes. Whatever they were celebrating has ended our son’s life,” he lamented.
A former youth leader in the community, Mr. Chika Ibeawuchi, confirmed hearing prolonged gunfire but could not ascertain the source.
“It lasted for more than 30 minutes. I don’t know who was responsible,” he said.
Police officers from the Owerri North Divisional Headquarters reportedly visited the scene on Tuesday and took the child’s body, along with his father, in an effort to extract the bullet for forensic analysis.
While efforts to get an official comment from the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, proved abortive as calls and messages went unanswered, a senior officer at the Owerri North Division confirmed the incident under anonymity. He said the matter is under investigation.
Meanwhile, the family and community members are calling for a thorough and transparent investigation to identify the source of the stray bullet and bring those responsible to justice.
“This is a painful loss for our family. We want answers. We want justice for our son,” Mr. Eleweke said.
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