The Ebonyi police have confirmed the accidental shooting of an officer by his colleague in front of the old Ebonyi Government House, Abakaliki.

The state Commissioner of Police (CP), Aliyu Garba, made the confirmation in a telephone chat with newsmen.

The commissioner said that the affected officer was responding to treatment in a hospital.

Mr Garba said that the injured officer did not die as a result of the incident, noting that the situation was under control.

Sources revealed under the condition of anonymity that both officers manned the entrance of the old government house in Abakaliki.

“The officer, who accidentally shot his colleague, was said to be servicing his gun but accidentally released bullets from its chambers which hit the victim.

“The officer was immediately demobilised by other officers and taken to the command while the wounded officer was immediately attended to.

“The victim was eventually evacuated to a hospital in a government house clinic’s ambulance,” he said.

In a statement, the Special Assistant to the governor on Media and Publicity, Francis Nwaze, urged the citizens not to panic over the incident and to disregard fake news.