Tragedy struck in the Abraka community of Ethiope-East Local Government Area on Saturday evening as a yet-to-be-identified pregnant woman lost her life after being hit by a stray bullet during a military pursuit of suspected internet fraudsters, locally known as
yahoo boys.
The incident, which has since gone viral on social media, was captured in a harrowing video showing the woman—clad in a white shirt soaked in blood—being rushed into a vehicle by a uniformed officer, in what appeared to be a desperate but futile effort to save her life.
According to eyewitnesses the chaos began when soldiers attached to Operation Delta Sweep attempted to stop a group of suspected yahoo boys for a search. The suspects allegedly refused to comply with the stop order and sped off, prompting the soldiers to engage in a high-speed chase.
In the course of the pursuit, the soldiers reportedly fired multiple gunshots indiscriminately. One of the bullets struck the woman, who was said to be innocently going about her activities at the time. She was confirmed dead before she could receive any medical attention.
The killing immediately sparked outrage within the community, with indigenes, residents, and students taking to the streets in protest. Demonstrators condemned what they described as the soldiers’ reckless conduct and abuse of power, demanding accountability and justice for the deceased.
Efforts to obtain an official statement from the Delta State Police Command were unsuccessful. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, did not respond to calls or text messages seeking confirmation of the incident.
As of the time of filing this report, the identity of the deceased woman remains unknown, but the emotional toll on the community is profound. The incident has once again raised serious concerns about the use of force by security operatives and the safety of civilians during law enforcement operations.
