Civil servant dies after accidental discharge from own gun
In a heartbreaking incident that unfolded on August 26th, a father of six from the Oloibiri community in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State lost his life due to an accidental gunshot wound.
The unfortunate incident occurred as Mr. Claude Tonworio, a farmer and hunter, was preparing to spend the weekend with his family.
According to reports from Daily Post, Mr. Tonworio had a Dane gun hanging on his neck as he attempted to transfer his harvested farm produce from his canoe to the house.
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Tragically, the firearm discharged accidentally, resulting in a fatal bullet wound to his head.
The entire community, especially the Otobo family of Eguema and Ogbolobiri in Nembe Local Government Area, is devastated by this immense loss. A family source revealed that in addition to being a dedicated civil servant, Mr. Tonworio regularly visited the village to spend weekends with his family. This particular weekend, he had gone to the farm with his tools and hunting gun to gather resources.
Recalling the incident, the source said, “He usually goes in a canoe, where he keeps whatever is harvested. On Saturday, the 26th, he went the same way, so we were all waiting. He came back and was trying to bring in the farm produce. We heard a loud sound, but we didn’t suspect something had gone wrong, but by the time people went outside, they discovered he was lying on the floor bleeding and struggling for survival with a shattered head through bullet wounds.”
Despite frantic efforts to rush Mr. Tonworio to the hospital, unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries on the way. As per customary rituals, his remains were later taken to the waterside.
This tragic accident has left the community in shock and mournful contemplation. The family is now faced with the immense challenge of caring for the six children Mr. Tonworio leaves behind.
When approached for comment, the spokesperson for the Bayelsa State Police Command, SP Asinim Butswat, stated that the incident has yet to be officially reported to the authorities.
