High Chief D!es After Accidental Gunshot During Ondo Funeral Rite

 

Image: IG 

A traditional funeral ceremony in Ayeka, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, took a tragic turn on Monday when a high chief was fatally sh0t during the rites.

The incident happened on October 5, 2026, as members of the traditional institution gathered to perform funeral rituals for one of their colleagues.

What was expected to be a solemn gathering suddenly became a scene of confusion after a firearm went off. The bullet reportedly struck one of the high-ranking traditional chiefs in the head, leaving him dead at the scene.

People who were at the ceremony said the shooting appeared to have been accidental. According to an eyewitness, the situation changed almost immediately after the unidentified person carrying the firearm discharged it.

The identity of the person who fired the weapon was not immediately made public.

Residents familiar with the incident said the chief was among those taking part in the traditional proceedings when the gun went off. The impact of the bullet proved fatal, with the victim reportedly dying instantly.

The incident has since drawn the attention of the police, who have begun investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

The spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, confirmed that the incident had been reported to the command.

Jimoh said one person had been arrested in connection with the incident, while investigators had commenced work to establish how the firearm was handled and what led to the fatal shooting.

The police spokesperson added that a detailed investigation into the incident had commenced.

Although witnesses have described the shooting as an accidental discharge, the police investigation is expected to establish the exact sequence of events and determine whether there were any other circumstances surrounding the d£ath.

The incident has brought a tragic end to what was meant to be a traditional ceremony honouring a deceased member of the community.

Funeral rites in many traditional communities often involve cultural practices and the presence of community leaders and members of traditional institutions. In this case, however, the gathering ended with the death of one of the chiefs taking part in the ceremony.

With a suspect already in custody, investigators are expected to question those who witnessed the incident and examine the firearm involved as they work to piece together what happened.

For now, authorities have continued to treat the case as an incident requiring further investigation, while the circumstances that led to the fatal gunshot remain the focus of the police inquiry.

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