7-YEAR OLD KILLS HOUSE HELP WITH FATHER'S GUN

Police in Abia State are currently investigating the death of a female househelp allegedly killed by a toddler with his lawyer-father’s gun in Aba. Meanwhile, security agents in the state have launched efforts to rescue a kidnapped Medical Director of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba. Though information about the death of the househelp is still sketchy, it was gathered that the lawyer’s child, said to be about seven years old, jokingly shot dead their house help with his father’s gun. The child was said to have picked the father’s gun from his bedroom, thinking it was a toy gun. A friend of the lawyer, who pleaded anonymity, said: “The child pointed the gun at the househelp and jokingly said ‘I will kill you’, and pulled the trigger. The gun went off and hit the househelp. She died before she could receive medical attention.” On the kidnap incident, Vanguard gathered that it took place Sunday evening around Howell Crescent, Aba, when gunmen seized the Medical Director, Dr. Eze Nwokocha, as he was returning home from a meeting in the city. At press time, security agents were said to have launched efforts to rescue Nwokocha, who hails from Abiriba in Ohafia council area. When contacted, spokesman of the Abia State Police Command, ASP Ogbonnaya Nta, who confirmed the death of the househelp, added that the kidnap incident was yet to be reported to police.