A 21-year-old 200-level Computer Science student from Nasarawa State University, Ikechukwu Godwin, was reportedly shot by Nigerian police officers at a checkpoint in Abuja on Saturday evening. The incident took place around 7 p.m. at FO1, a residential area in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council.
According to the victim's father, Ikechukwu was accused by the police of being an internet fraudster and was demanded to pay a bribe of N200,000. After a brief search of his phone, the police allegedly handcuffed him and continued to demand money. When Ikechukwu explained he could not pay, he was allowed to make calls, but while doing so, one of the officers reportedly shot him in the leg, causing him to fall into a nearby gutter. The police then fled the scene.
Motorcycle taxi riders (Okada riders) helped transport Ikechukwu to his home before he was rushed to the hospital, where doctors confirmed that two of his bones had been broken from the bullet wound.
The incident has prompted an investigation, with police officials reportedly involved in questioning the matter. At the time of writing, the FCT police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, had not provided further comments on the case.
