A 16-year-old student, Paul, who was shot by a landlord in Owerri, Imo State, has died less than 24 hours after undergoing surgery.
The tragic incident occurred after the teenager jumped into the landlord’s compound to retrieve a football during a game at his school, Urban Secondary School, located in the Area N axis of the World Bank Housing Estate.
Paul was confirmed dead on Thursday afternoon at the Specialist Hospital, Umuguma, Owerri, where he had been receiving treatment. His guardian, Mr. Jonathan Odikanwa, disclosed the news in a sorrowful statement.
According to earlier reports, the incident happened on Monday when Paul jumped over the school fence to retrieve a ball that had landed in the landlord’s compound.
The property owner, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, allegedly became enraged and shot the teenager in the waist.
Doctors later conducted surgery after discovering that Paul’s bowel movements were blocked.
Although an X-ray failed to show the location of the bullet, the medical team proceeded with the operation in an effort to save his life.
Mr. Odikanwa, a septuagenarian, had earlier appealed to the public for prayers during Paul’s surgery.
Speaking in grief after the boy’s death, he said, “He has passed away. My son has passed away.
The doctors just told us they lost him. We had hoped he would survive after the operation.”
Though not his biological son, Paul had lived with the Odikanwa family for about eight years and was in Junior Secondary School 1 at the time of the incident.
The Imo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of the landlord. Police spokesperson, DSP Henry Okoye, stated that an investigation is ongoing.
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