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Mother of Four Injured by Stray Bullet During Protest Seeks Justice

Published by Tope Fakinlede on August 15th, 2024.

Mother of Four Injured by Stray Bullet During Protest Seeks Justice

Safiya Yahaya, a mother of four, is seeking justice after being struck by a stray bullet while at home on Lafiya Road, Kakuri, in Kaduna South Local Government Area. The incident occurred during the #EndBadGovernance protest.

Safiya, who is currently receiving treatment at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, reported that the bullet caused a severe injury, breaking her bone. Speaking from her hospital bed, Safiya recounted the events of August 5th: “I was at home when I heard a loud bang from the roof. I tried to stand up to investigate but couldn’t move. I then noticed a deep cut on my leg. My mother, who was staying with me, came in, saw the injury, and noticed blood. She used a cloth to tie my leg and arranged transportation to take me to the hospital.”

While at the hospital, Safiya’s mother asked her sister to check their home for the source of the noise. Safiya’s sister discovered a bullet hole in the ceiling, another in the chair Safiya had been sitting on, and a bullet lodged in the food flask Safiya had used shortly before the incident.

The matter was reported to the Kakuri Police Station near Nigerian Breweries, and the police conducted an inspection at the house. Three officers also visited Safiya in the hospital, informing her that the case had been reported to the Commissioner of Police.

Safiya, who became a petty trader after losing her job at a private school, has requested government assistance to cover her medical expenses. “I’ve already spent over N300,000 on surgery and treatment, as the bullet impact severely affected my bone,” she said.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mansur Hassan, stated that no formal report had been received regarding the incident but assured that the matter would be investigated.