Eko Hot Blog reports that a soldier with the Theatre Command Operation HADIN KAI has shot dead his colleague and a staff of one of the NGOs providing humanitarian support in the North East.
An Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Major Samson Nantip Zhakom, made the disclosure in a statement on Thursday evening.
According to Zhakom, the killer soldier also injured the co-pilot of one of the United Nations (UN) helicopters but the wounded has been stabilised.
The army spokesman noted that troops on the ground immediately neutralised the errant soldier.
He added that the army has commenced a detailed investigation into the incident, while promising further details later.
“The Theatre Command Operation HADIN KAI regrets to inform the public of a sad occurrence at one of our military base today,” the statement reads.
“A soldier shot and killed a staff of one of the NGOs providing humanitarian support in the North East. Same soldier also killed another soldier and injured the co-pilot of one of the UN helicopters.
“Own troops on the ground immediately neutralised the errant personnel. The injured co-pilot has been stabilised while the corpses of the deceased have been moved to the 7 Division Hospital.
“Detailed investigation into the incident and subsequent remedial actions have commenced into the highly regrettable incident. Further details will be provided later.”
Thursday’s incident is not the first to happen in the ranks of the Nigerian Army.
In February 2020, the Nigerian Army confirmed that a corporal serving at the Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, Army Super Camp 15, lost his cool and fatally shot four of his colleagues before shooting himself.
In September 2018, two staff sergeants of the Nigerian Army, identified as Adegor Okpako and Saka, were killed and four others injured during in-theatre training at the 192 Battalion in the Gwoza area of Borno State.
While some people claimed that Okpako deliberately killed Saka and injured four others before committing suicide, the Nigerian Army said it was a case of accidental discharge.
A few days after the Borno incident, another soldier, Markus Yusuf, reportedly opened fire at a military facility in Abuja, killing one colleague and injuring another before shooting himself dead.
In December 2020, a soldier allegedly shot dead his colleague at a popular spot along Baga Road in Maiduguri, Borno State, where drugs were sold.
These killings and more have raised concerns over the mental health of security agents.
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