COAS, Lt. Gen. Faruk-Yahaya
Army confirms soldier’s killing of colleagues, self, in Sokoto, commences investigation
Nigerian Army has begun investigations into the incident involving a junior ranking soldier, who killed his superiors, and another before eventually killing himself at the Forward Operations Base (FOB) Rabbah in Sokoto State.
A statement issued by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu which confirmed the ‘sad and rare incident’ added that it occurred, last Sunday evening, at the FOB, where troops were deployed for Internal Security Operations.
According to the statement, ‘the circumstances leading to the incident could not be immediately ascertained, as the soldier who killed his colleagues also shot himself immediately, terminating his own life.’
General Officer Commanding (GOC) 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, where he commiserated with troops for losing their colleagues in such an unfortunate situation.
He urged them to be their brother’s keepers and report any anomaly observed amongst their colleagues in order to forestall such incidents while encouraging them to remain calm and committed to the discharge of their duties.
“The authorities of the Nigerian Army expressed deep concern about the unusual and ugly development and have therefore instituted a Board of Inquiry (BOI) 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,” the statement read.
It would be recalled that a soldier had allegedly gone berserk, killing his commander and two others before committing suicide at the Forward Operating Base, Rabah, in Sokoto State.
The soldier identified as Lance Corporal Nwobobo Chinoso of 223 Battalion Zuru, Kebbi State, was deployed at Forward Operating Base Rabah, Sokoto, where the incident happened at the residence of the Base Commander on Sunday.
He reportedly opened fire and killed the FOB Commander, Lt. T.I. Sam-Oladapo, two other soldiers including the Command Sergeant Major (CSM), Iliyasu Inusa and Private Attahiru Mohammed, before turning the gun on himself.
The incident occurred at about 1700 hours (5pm.
“At about 051700A March 23, LCPL Nwobobo Chinoso of 223 Battalion Zuru attached to 26 Battalion and deployed at Forward Operating Base, Rabah, opened fire and killed the Forward Operating Base commander, Lt. T.I. Sam-Oladapo, the command sergeant major (CSM) SSGT Iliyasu Inusa and Pte Attahiru Mohammed, inside the commander’s accommodation before killing himself,” read the signal from the FOB.
The commander, 8 Division Garrison and Commanding Officer, 26 Battalion were said to have visited the location, while efforts were ongoing to move the corpses to Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) in Sokoto.
