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Drama as Police Operatives Reportedly Shoot Each Other After Mistaking Themselves for IPOB Members
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The police in Abia State, southeast Nigeria, have launched an investigation into a reported incident where police officers allegedly exchanged gunfire after mistakenly identifying each other as members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Confusion Over Mistaken Identity
On Wednesday, a chaotic scene unfolded in the Alaoji Area of Aba, a major commercial center in the state, when two groups of police officers reportedly opened fire on each other.
According to information obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the shootout involved a police patrol team from the Police Area Command in Aba and another team from Umuahia, the state capital.
Eyewitnesses claimed that the officers appeared to have mistaken one another for IPOB members.
The confusion reportedly arose because the officers from Umuahia were using commercial buses, leading their colleagues from Aba to misidentify them as members of the separatist group.
The incident caused panic among shop owners around the Alaoji Motor Spare Parts Market and nearby passersby, who fled the area to avoid stray bullets.
The market is situated along the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway.
Tragically, a truck driver was fatally struck by a stray bullet during the exchange of gunfire.
The situation reportedly de-escalated after the officers realized they were all on the same side.
In response to the incident, the state police spokesperson, Maureen Chinaka, issued a statement on Thursday confirming that police authorities are conducting an investigation.
“From our preliminary investigation, there is no credible evidence to suggest that police officers mistook themselves for members of IPOB and fired at each other,” Ms Chinaka, an assistant superintendent of police, said.
“What we can confirm is that there was a shooting in that area, which resulted in the death of a civilian,” she stated.
The police spokesperson has encouraged anyone with valuable information about the incident to come forward and assist with the ongoing investigation.
IPOB, the group advocating for an independent Biafra from the South-East and parts of South-South Nigeria, has been associated with several fatal attacks in these regions.
(Premium Times)
News
See Photos of World’s Tallest and Shortest Women Meet for Afternoon Tea in London
The world’s tallest woman and the world’s shortest woman met for the first time this week, sipping tea from china cups — and bonding over what they have in common while celebrating their differences.
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Rumeysa Gelgi, from Turkey, stands at 7 feet and 0.7 inches, while Jyoti Amge, from India, is 2 feet and 0.7 inches.
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
“You’re so beautiful,” said Gelgi, 27. “Thank you — you too,” replied Amge, 30.
Their meeting, over afternoon tea at London’s Savoy Hotel on Tuesday, came ahead of Guinness World Records Day, which is held annually in November to mark record-breaking achievements and encourage people to attempt records. The pair have been honored as “World Record icons” in the 70th anniversary edition of the Guinness World Records book.
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“Meeting Jyoti for the first time was wonderful,” Gelgi said in a release Wednesday. “She’s the most gorgeous lady. I was waiting to meet her for a long time.”
Gelgi said the pair bonded over their love for makeup, jewelry and doing their nails.
Video footage showed them sitting down for tea, cakes and sandwiches stacked next to them, with the London Eye visible from the window.
Amge said in the release that she was “so happy to look up” and see the world’s tallest woman, whom she called “good-natured.” She added that it was difficult at times for the pair to make eye contact “due to our height difference.”
“Guinness World Records is all about celebrating differences,” its editor in chief, Craig Glenday, said in a statement ahead of Guinness World Record Day, which is on Thursday.
“By bringing together these two amazing, iconic women, they can share their perspectives on life with each other and, also, with us,” Glenday said.
Gelgi’s record-breaking height is due to a rare genetic condition called Weaver syndrome, which causes rapid growth, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
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The primary symptom is growth and bone development that occurs faster than usual, making those affected taller than average. People with Weaver syndrome may have rigid muscles and difficulty extending their elbows or knees.
Gelgi used a walking aid for support during the pair’s meeting. Her case of Weaver syndrome was the 27th ever diagnosed and the first in Turkey, according to Guinness World Records.
Weaver syndrome is generally caused by changes in the EZH2 gene, according to the NORD, though the organization notes that some people with Weaver syndrome do not have a mutation in the gene.
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Amge, an actor who played the character of Ma Petite in the television series “American Horror Story,” has a genetic growth disorder that occurs in the early stages of fetal development, known as achondroplasia.
According to Johns Hopkins, the condition causes shorter bones, abnormally shaped bones and shorter stature. While the genetic defect can be passed from parent to child, in about 80 percent of cases, achondroplasia results from a spontaneous mutation that occurs in the developing embryo.
On Thursday, Gelgi shared photos on Instagram of the two exploring London despite the cold weather, posing side by side in front of Tower Bridge.
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