A deeply tragic incident unfolded on Sunday in Awka, the Anambra State capital, as a 10-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed his father, a serving police inspector identified as Okolie Amechi, using the officer’s service AK-47 rifle.

 

According to reports gathered on Monday, the bullet from the accidental discharge also struck the inspector’s second son, Emmanuel, in the hand during the chaotic scene at the family’s residence.

 

Sources close to the family revealed that the boy had been fondling his father’s loaded AK-47 rifle when he unknowingly pulled the trigger. The bullet hit Inspector Amechi in the back and ricocheted, injuring his sibling.

 

The incident has sent shockwaves through the Anambra State Police Command, plunging the force into mourning.

 

Confirming the heartbreaking development, the spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, issued a press statement expressing sorrow over the unfortunate event.

 

“The Anambra State Police Command has expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident that resulted in the death of Police Inspector Okolie Amechi in Awka.

The incident, which occurred on the evening of June 15, 2025, was allegedly due to an accidental discharge by his 10-year-old son,” the statement read.

 

Ikenga explained that the boy, unaware that the rifle was loaded and dangerous, pulled the trigger, resulting in the fatal shooting of his father and the injury of his brother.

 

“Regrettably, Inspector Amechi was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty at the hospital where he was rushed. The second victim, Emmanuel, is currently receiving medical treatment and is responding well,” Ikenga added.

 

The statement also confirmed that the AK-47 rifle has since been recovered, and the remains of the deceased officer have been deposited in a mortuary pending further arrangements.

 

While offering condolences to the bereaved family, the police command pledged to provide updates as more facts emerge from the ongoing investigation.

 

This tragic event adds to a worrying trend of gun-related incidents involving police firearms in the state.

 

It would be recalled that in August 2024, gunmen attacked a police checkpoint near the Nnobi Police Station in Idemili South Local Government Area. That attack occurred barely three weeks after a similar assault at a checkpoint on Omata-Nnobi Road in Nnewi, during which another officer was killed by the assailants, who also deployed explosive devices during the attack.

 

A source from the Nnobi community disclosed at the time that the slain officer in that incident was the driver of one of the police patrol vehicles.

 

As Anambra continues to grapple with security challenges, this latest incident raises renewed concerns about the safe storage and handling of service weapons, particularly in domestic environments.

 

Meanwhile, grief hangs heavy over the Amechi household as loved ones and colleagues struggle to come to terms with the tragic loss of a dedicated officer, cut down not in the line of duty — but in a heartbreaking domestic accident.