A Corporal, Adeyinka Olokor, attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Command, Ikeja, has been arrested after he allegedly shot and killed his wife.

According to witnesses, Olokor mistakenly shot his wife on the thigh while she was sleeping and she died within minutes.

The incident occurred on Tuesday at Dopemu area of Egbeda, a suburb of Lagos. Olokor was removing his pistol from the holster, unaware that it was corked.

The gun exploded and killed his wife, also a Corporal. The couple has three kids. The deceased, Ajoke Olokor, from Ondo State, was attached to Elere Police Station, Agege, Lagos.

The Corporal left his office about 8:30pm while the incident occurred about 10pm. Some of the neighbours said they saw Olokor go into his apartment and soon they heard a gunshot. The neighbours became frightened when Olokor screamed.

They were, however, shocked when he carried his wife out of their apartment. He reportedly cried: “God, I have killed my wife!” Ajoke was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), where she was confirmed dead.

The Officer in Charge of SARS, a Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr Adejobi, was later alerted about the accidental shooting. Adejobi reportedly detailed some SARS men to Dopemu, to carry out further findings at the scene. A police source said: “It was a mistake. When he returned home from office, his wife was sleeping. He removed the pistol, intending to keep it on top of the table beside the bed; the next thing that happened was that the gun exploded. The woman was shot on the thigh. He is a nice and gentle policeman. It was a mistake!”

It was gathered that Olokor might be punished with dismissal for failing to submit the pistol at police headquarters before leaving office for the day. The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Joe Offor, confirmed the killing. He said: “It was an accidental discharge. The officer returned from work and was trying to remove his service pistol from the holster. He did not know it was corked. In the process, it exploded and hit the woman in the lap. She was rushed to hospital and confirmed dead.”

According to Offor, death could occur if someone had gunshot wound on any part of the body. He added: “Moreover, the lap area is very dangerous. It is as dangerous as being shot in the heart. Bullet can hit someone in the stomach and the person may survive, but chest and lap; the person hardly survives it.

“The case is under investigation. We want to know whether there was an intention to kill; we want to know if he was reckless with the arm and we also want to know if he was negligent. The investigation will cover all these. If he is found to be reckless or negligent or had intention to kill his wife, the law would take its course.”