A heartbreaking tragedy has gripped social media as news emerged of a young boy who accidentally shot and killed his sister while playing with their father’s hunting rifle. The devastating event has ignited widespread concern over gun safety and parental responsibility.
The incident was made public through a video shared on X (formerly Twitter) by a police officer known as @Brightgoldenboy, who detailed the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting.
In the video, the officer clarified that the post was not targeting any religious, ethnic, or gender group, but was shared to serve as a cautionary message to all parents and gun owners.
According to the report, the children’s father, a local hunter, had negligently left his loaded long-range single-barrel gun within reach. The boy, who had reportedly handled the weapon on previous occasions without supervision, was playing with it when it suddenly discharged, resulting in the death of his sister.
The officer explained: “This long-range single-barrel gun belongs to the father of one of the suspects. The father is the suspect because his carelessness is the reason we’re here today.”
Further investigation revealed the boy had a history of playing with the weapon. On the day of the incident, while engaging with it once again, the gun went off unexpectedly, firing a shot that struck and killed his younger sister instantly.
The father admitted during questioning that the gun was inherited from his own father and used exclusively for hunting. However, he insisted he had no idea his son was regularly accessing the firearm.
“The gun na my father gun, na hunt I dey use am dey do,” he said in Pidgin English, expressing shock at the outcome.
The young boy also appeared in the video, where he stated his age and spoke briefly about the incident, visibly shaken and remorseful.
As the story made rounds online, social media users expressed sorrow, frustration, and anger. Many blamed the father for his carelessness and called for accountability.
See some reactions below:
@bliss73684: “Won’t the father be arrested for carelessness that lead to his child death, or my overreacting?”
@REGINA823417: “Omor this is very sad 😥 but why the father go leave bullet for inside he still dey at fault too.”
@eweje_kolade: “Why the father has to keep a loaded gun in the house? That’s negligence on the side of the father. He needs to be prosecuted and face the judgement.”
@ejyvik: “The father knows about his behaviour with gun but think he is passing legacy to son, how does anyone play with a gun.”
@larryumolo: “The number of very foolish fathers are on a rapid increase, yet we wonder why we no longer have good leaders in all sectors of the Nigerian society.”
@InemaHarry: “The father caused the wrongful death of his daughter by keeping a loaded gun. Can the police sue the father for negligence.”
WATCH VIDEO:
I pray and hope I don’t have to bring this kind of report to you again because it’s so sad. The father claimed he is a hunter, his 16-year-old son, who always plays with his dad’s gun on this Faithful day, was playing with the gun, shot and killed his younger sister. pic.twitter.com/D5VFhBciDm
— SP. Bright Edafe (@Brightgoldenboy) May 17, 2025