Tragedy struck in Basam Osokom community of Cross River State on Monday after a hunter, identified as Otu Goodness Kanang, mistakenly shot and killed a woman while hunting in a nearby forest.
According to eyewitnesses, Kanang reportedly aimed at what he believed was a monkey perched on a tree. However, moments after firing, he said he heard a human cry. Upon closer inspection, he was shocked to discover that he had accidentally shot a woman, identified only as Victoria.
The victim’s full identity has yet to be confirmed, as only her first name was known at the time of the incident.
Local youths, alongside police detectives, later visited the scene. They helped evacuate the woman’s body to the residence of a local chief in Bansam, pending further investigation and action.
Confirming the development, the Cross River State Police Command said the hunter has been taken into custody and an investigation is ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The police assured that normalcy has returned to the area and that there is no threat to public peace.
This incident adds to growing concerns about safety during hunting activities in forest communities, especially where people and wildlife often share the same space.
Authorities are urging hunters to exercise greater caution to avoid such avoidable and tragic accidents.
