[August 08, 2011] Stray Bullet Kills 7-Year-Old Girl in Maiduguri As Resident Rushed for Free Ramadan Grains Tweet Maiduguri, Aug 08, 2011 (Daily Trust/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- A stray bullet fired by a member of the Joint Task Force (JTF) yesterday killed a seven -year old girl at Budum area of Maiduguri metropolis. Witnesses said the incident took place around 1.45 pm when residents of the area gathered at one of the free Ramadan grains distribution centres in order to get their share. The state government had procured tonnes of assorted food including rice, millet, guinea corn worth hundreds of millions and are being distributed to residents. "Actually, the venue of the distribution is close to where a bomb exploded about three weeks ago and a military check post is located nearby. May be because of the mammoth crowd, the JTF members started shooting in the air probably with the aim of dispersing the crowd," Baba Kolo, a resident of the area told Sunday Trust. He said the young girl was not even at the scene of the distribution as she was on her way home from the nearby market where she was sent to buy some things. "Immediately the JTF fired on the air, people started scampering for safety and a stray bullet hit the young girl. Unfortunately, a fleeing vehicle also rammed on the poor girl and she died at the spot," another witness, Mallam Gana said. Early yesterday, a bomb exploded at Kwanan Yobe in Mashamari area of the state capital. Witnesses said the bomb went off around 7.am but did not hit anybody. "People were indoors when the bomb was tossed on the pathway, he thunderous sound attracted the attention of the residents who trooped out of their homes," Musa Lado, a resident said. "Immediately after the blast, members of the task force cordoned off the area as most people distanced themselves from the scene for more than three hours," Lado said. Lado alleged that some kiosks and make shift tents for selling recharge card close to Experimental Secondary Schools were seen in flames. When contacted, spokesman of the JTF, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Hassan said a press statement on the incidents would be issued to journalists on Monday. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]