Update: Nigerian Army begins probe after soldier allegedly killed colleagues and then committed suicide in Sokoto
The Nigerian Army has announced the start of a probe into the incident of a soldier who allegedly killed his colleagues and himself at Forward Operations Base Rabbah, Sokoto State.
In a statement on Monday, March 6, the Director of Army Public Relations Officer, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the incident occurred on Sunday evening.
According to the statement, the troops were deployed for internal security operations in the area, when the soldier killed his colleagues and also shot himself immediately.
“The Nigerian Army has instituted investigations into the unfortunate incident of a soldier, who killed his colleagues and himself at Forward Operations Base Rabbah, Sokoto State. The sad and rare incident occurred on the evening of Sunday, March 5, 2023, at the FOB, where troops were deployed for Internal Security Operations,” the statement read.
“The circumstances leading to the incident could not be immediately ascertained, as the soldier who killed his colleagues also shot himself immediately.
“The authorities of the Nigerian Army are deeply concerned about this unusual and ugly development and have therefore instituted a Board of Inquiry to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident. It is envisaged that the findings of the BOI will help forestall such ugly and bizarre occurrences in the future.”
He said the General Officer Commanding, the 8 Division Nigerian Army, who also doubles as the Commander, of Joint Task Force Northwest Operation Hadarin Daji, Major General Godwin Mutkut, and other senior officers have visited the location.
