The Nigerian Army has announced that investigations into the death of a soldier who killed his colleagues and himself at Forward Operations Base Rabbah in Sokoto State have begun.
Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director, Army Public Relations Officer, said in a statement that the incident happened Sunday evening.
He stated that troops were stationed in the area to conduct internal security operations.
Onyema stated that the circumstances surrounding the incident could not be determined immediately, and that the soldier who killed his colleagues immediately shot himself.
The statement partly read, “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 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, 8 Division Nigerian Army, who also doubles as the Commander, Joint Task Force Northwest Operation Hadarin Daji, Major General Godwin Mutkut, and other senior officers have visited the location.
He urged them to be their brother’s keepers and report any anomaly observed amongst their colleagues in order to forestall such incidents.
He also encouraged them to remain calm and committed in the discharge of their duties.