The police spokesman said investigations into the incident were ongoing.
A teenager, Suzana Alamagani, 18, of Zakwa Area, Kafanchan, Kaduna State, was on Friday killed by a stray bullet when the police attempted to disperse protesters at Kafanchan High Court.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Kaduna, Aminu Lawal, who confirmed the incident, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the girl’s death was “a case of accidental discharge”.
Mr. Lawal said that the police were deployed to the premises of the court to control over 100 youth who threatened to mob a lawyer.
He said the lawyer, was the counsel for a company which the youth claimed, swindled some of them.
“We were out to calm the situation and in the process the unfortunate incident happened,’’ he said.
The police spokesman said that a corporal, who was part of the rescue team, was stoned on the head by the mob who tried to prevent the police from escaping with the lawyer.
He said that the corporal, who was injured, fell from the police van holding his rifle.
“In a situation like this, anything could have happened when the corporal fell with his rifle.
“There may have been an accidental discharge in the process which led to the unfortunate incident,’’ he said.
Mr. Lawal said that the victim was rushed to the General Hospital, Kafanchan, where she was confirmed dead and that the corporal was hospitalised.
He urged the residents to remain calm as investigation into the matter had commenced.