Tragedy in Delta: Grief as Teen Fatally Shoots Younger Sister With Father’s Gun in Delta State [VIDEO]

 

A devastating incident has left a family in mourning and a community stunned after a 16-year-old boy fatally shot his younger sister while handling their father’s firearm. The tragic event unfolded in Delta State, Nigeria, and has raised renewed concerns over gun safety and the responsibilities of firearm ownership in households.

According to a social media statement shared by the Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Police Command, Bright Edafe, the incident occurred when the teenager was reportedly playing with a gun owned by his father. The father, who claimed to be a licensed hunter, admitted that the firearm used in the accidental shooting belonged to him.

The post, published on Edafe’s verified X (formerly Twitter) account, expressed both sorrow and frustration at the tragic turn of events. He wrote, “I pray and hope I don't have to bring this kind of report to you again because it's so sad.”

Further details in the post revealed a distressing pattern: the teenager had a known habit of handling the firearm, often playing with it, despite the clear dangers. Edafe noted, “The father claimed he is a hunter. His 16-year-old son, who always plays with his dad’s gun, on this fateful day, was playing with the gun, shot and killed his younger sister.”

The gender and exact age of the deceased sister were not disclosed in the statement, but the weight of the tragedy has already rippled through the community, prompting calls for greater accountability in how firearms are stored in family homes.

Law enforcement authorities are now investigating the incident, and questions loom over whether negligence played a role in the fatal shooting. Although the father has not been publicly named, there are expectations that the police may pursue charges related to improper storage of a deadly weapon, given the teen’s repeated access to the firearm.

Community members have expressed anger and sorrow over what many describe as a preventable tragedy. Conversations have intensified around the dangers of firearms in homes with children or teenagers, and critics argue that more stringent safety measures, including mandatory gun safes and trigger locks, are needed to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Experts in firearm safety and child protection have repeatedly warned that the mere presence of a gun in a household significantly increases the risk of accidental injuries and fatalities—especially when those weapons are not properly secured. This incident painfully underscores those warnings.

While the family grapples with an unimaginable loss, the Delta State Police Command has urged gun-owning parents and guardians to take firearm safety more seriously. Edafe’s message serves as a grim reminder of the stakes involved: “This is a life lost. A family shattered. A young boy burdened forever with the knowledge of what he has done.”

The shooting not only ended a young girl’s life prematurely but also has likely changed the trajectory of the teenager’s life. The psychological impact of such an incident can be long-lasting, particularly for a young person involved in an accidental death of a sibling.

As investigations proceed, legal experts anticipate that the authorities may explore whether the father can be held criminally responsible for recklessly allowing access to a dangerous weapon. The case may set a precedent in how such incidents are handled, especially involving underage individuals and firearms in Nigeria.

Calls have grown louder for awareness campaigns on gun safety and a legislative framework to enforce responsible gun ownership, particularly among hunters and other civilian gun license holders.

No parent or child should ever have to live through such a harrowing ordeal. This heartbreaking case stands as a stark warning about the critical importance of firearm responsibility in homes across the nation.

VIDEO: Teen accidentally shoots, kill younger sister with father's gun in Delta

A 16-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed his younger sister while playing with a firearm belonging to their father.

According to a post on the X handle of the Delta Police Public Relations… pic.twitter.com/IkZqmbszLm

— The Nation Nigeria (@TheNationNews) May 17, 2025