Interior Ministry Confirms NIS Officer Hit by Stray Bullet, Clears Chinese Firm
The Nigerian Ministry of Interior has clarified that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) officer, initially believed to have been shot on the orders of a Chinese company, was actually struck by a stray bullet.
Babatunde Alao, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Saturday, March 29, following further investigations into the incident. Earlier, Minister Tunji-Ojo had accused a Chinese firm of orchestrating the shooting and vowed to take action.
However, Cui Guangzhen, Director General of the Chinese Commerce Chamber in Nigeria, refuted these claims, stating that no Chinese company or national was involved. Instead, he attributed the shooting to a stray bullet fired by Nigerian police officers attempting to arrest a suspect accused of stealing iron rods from a Chinese-owned company.
Confirming this account, Alao issued a statement emphasizing that ongoing investigations supported the claim that the officer was unintentionally hit.
“Following the report of the alleged shooting of an officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Niger State, further investigations have revealed that the officer was hit by a stray bullet that was neither shot on the order of the Chinese company nor its employee,” the statement read.
Alao further assured that a full-scale investigation had been launched in collaboration with other security agencies to uncover the exact circumstances of the shooting.
“This inquiry aims to establish the detailed circumstances surrounding the incident and to ensure that anyone found responsible will face justice. The Minister remains fully committed to safeguarding the safety, dignity, and professional integrity of all law enforcement personnel.”
The Ministry of Interior also reassured the public that the government remains committed to supporting law-abiding businesses, both local and foreign, while ensuring accountability and justice in cases involving security personnel.
Interior Ministry Confirms NIS Officer Hit by Stray Bullet, Clears Chinese Firm
