A mother of four from Kaduna, Safiya Yahaya, is seeking justice after being hospitalised due to a stray bullet wound sustained during the recent #EndBadGovernance protests.

According to Safiya, who spoke to Daily Trust from her hospital bed at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, the incident occurred on August 5 at her home on Lafiya Road, Kakuri, in the Kaduna South Local Government Area.

She explained that the stray bullet hit her leg, shattering her bone, while she was inside her home during the 10-day protest against hunger, hardship, and bad governance. Safiya’s plea for justice comes as she receives treatment for her injuries.

Safiya recalled hearing a loud bang from the roof and trying to investigate, but she was unable to move. That’s when she saw a deep gash on her leg.

Her mother, who was staying with her, noticed the injury, straightened Safiya’s leg, and blood started flowing. Her mother quickly bandaged the wound and arranged for transportation to the hospital.

She said, “On 5th August, I was at home in Kakuri when we heard a loud bang from the roof. I asked my children what the sound was and where it came from, but they did not know so I attempted to stand up to check what it was but I could not. I tried again, still I could not get up, I then checked my leg and I noticed a deep cut.

“That was when blood started coming out. She used a wrapper to tie the leg and told my sister to get transportation to take me to the hospital.”

Safiya recounted that her sister conducted a thorough search of their residence and found evidence of the incident, including a hole in the ceiling, a bullet lodged in a food flask, and another hole in the chair where Safiya had been sitting.

Safiya reported the incident to the Kakuri Police Station, near Nigerian Breweries, and police officers visited both the house and the hospital, informing her that the Commissioner of Police had been briefed on the situation.

Safiya is now seeking government assistance during this difficult time, as she has accumulated over N300,000 in medical expenses following surgery to repair the damage caused by the bullet.

However, when contacted, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, Mansur Hassan, stated that the command had not yet received a formal report, but promised to conduct a thorough investigation.