A funeral ceremony in the ancient town of Ilesa, Osun State, turned tragic on Saturday following an accidental gun discharge during a ceremonial salute in honour of the deceased.
The incident occurred at the Oke-Iro area of Ilesa, where a son of the deceased reportedly invited members of the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) from Plateau State to participate in the burial and add glamour to the event.
It was gathered that during the interment, the forest guards, armed with locally made guns, fired a ceremonial salute when one of the firearms accidentally discharged, injuring five guests. A 14-year-old girl later died from her injuries.
Eyewitnesses said about six forest guards had travelled from Plateau State to attend the event at the invitation of the deceased’s son.
“Tragedy struck when one of the guns misfired, killing a young girl instantly and leaving four others injured,” a source said.
“The guards fled the scene, while the injured were rushed to Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, for treatment. The deceased girl was buried beside her late mother, and both the guards and the man who invited them have been arrested by the police.”
A journalist and aide to the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Isaac Haastrup, appealed to members of the public to assist the injured victims.
“Let’s rise up with compassion and kindness for the victims of the firearms discharge in Ilesa, who are receiving treatment at Wesley Guild Hospital. One victim is currently in ICU at OAUTHC Ile-Ife and is a widow’s child,” he wrote.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Osun State, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the teenager died a few hours after being taken to the hospital.
He added that the deceased’s son and the NFSS members from Plateau were arrested, with two of the forest guards currently in detention as investigations continue.
Ojelabi disclosed that five victims were initially rushed to different hospitals for treatment.
“After a few hours, we received a report that one of the victims, aged 14, died. As of this morning (Sunday), three others have been discharged, while one remains in the ICU,” he said.
