More details have emerged on a man killed by a stray bullet from an official of the Department of State Services [DSS] who was firing at a cow in Anambra.

According to reports, the victim is reportedly one Onyeocha Umuokwu, a kinsman of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige.

It was gathered that the incident happened on Christmas day.

The officer, it was gathered, allegedly fired at a cow that was running away from a VIP’s house, where he was attached but missed his target and the bullet landed on the victim.

A source who may have mistaken the DSS officer for a policeman said,

“Onyeocha Umuokwu was shot by a police officer at Engineer Eze’s house on 25th December 2019, in Alor.

“A cow cut the rope they tied it, and started running. A police officer on duty aimed to shoot the cow, but mistakenly shot and killed Onyeocha Umuokwu, so painful.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, in a statement on Friday, dispelled the claim that it was a policeman that committed the act.

He said,”

The attention of the Anambra State Police Command has been drawn to a misleading report being circulated that one Onyeocha Umuokwu was allegedly shot by a police officer at Engineer Eze’s house on the 25/12/2019 in Alor Community, Idemili South LGA of Anambra State.

“The report probably orchestrated by mischief makers who want to portray the police in bad light is totally misleading.

“In order to clear ambiguity and to set the record straight, on the 25/12/2019 at the residence of one Engr Emeka Eze of Umuokwu village Alor, a DSS personnel whose identity is yet unknown attached to a VIP allegedly fired gunshot at a cow in a bid to stop it from escaping but the bullet missed target and allegedly hit one Nnaemaka Nnabuenyi(a domestic staff of the said Engineer)popularly known as Onyeocha and the victim died on the spot. The incident was not reported to police.

Mohammed added,

“Following the incident, police detectives led by DPO Nnobi Division visited the scene but neither the Engineer nor the victim’s relative are willing to provide any useful information that will aid police investigation.

“However, Corpse was taken to the mortuary for autopsy and case is under investigation to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident please.”