The trend is getting worrisome. On Sunday, a soldier shot two of his superiors, a junior, and himself.
Four months ago, a soldier of the 25 Task Force Brigade in Borno ran amok on a Thursday and shot two, a female humanitarian aid worker and a fellow soldier, to death while injuring another, a UN pilot.
Reports said he would have taken more lives, but for the quick intervention of his colleagues who neutralised him.
While reacting to the incident then, the Theatre Commander of “Operation HADIN KAI’’, expressed regret at the sad occurrence at one of its military bases.
Maj. Samson Zhakom, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations. Headquarters, Theatre Command, said the soldier shot and killed a staff member of one of the NGOs providing humanitarian support in the Northeast.
“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,’’ he said.
Three years ago, in a classic case of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the Army announced the bizzare case of an Army corporal in Borno State who shot dead four of his fellow combatants, injuried two others, turned the gun on himself and committed suicide.
The story of the event as told by then Army spokesman, Col. Sagir Musa, read: “A Corporal of the Nigerian Army serving at the Theatre Command Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Army Super Camp 15, located at Malam Fatori went berserk in early hours of 26 February 2020 and opened fire killing 4 of his colleagues before shooting himself.
“Two of his colleagues were also injured during the incident and are currently in stable condition in our hospital in Maiduguri….
“Meanwhile, investigation into the case has since been instituted to determine the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident.”
Observers suspect there have been many incidents that did not make it into the public space, even as results of investigations are not made public because of their security implications.
Regarding last weekend’s tragedy, the Nigerian Army has set up a Board of Inquiry (BoI) to unravel the circumstances that led to the shooting of an officer and two other soldiers by the their colleague, who also shot himself dead.
Said Army spokesman, Brig-General Onyema Nwachukwu: “The authorities of the Nigerian Army are deeply concerned about this unusual and ugly development and have 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 occurrence in the future.”
Media reports said the Lance Corporal, Nwobodo Chinoso, shot dead the Commander of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Rabah in Sokoto State, Lt. Sam Oladapo.
He also shot the FOB Rabah Command Sergeant Major (CSM), Sgt. Iliyasu Inusa, and another private soldier, Attahiru Mohammed, after felling Oladapo.
He proceeded to turning the rifle on himself and shooting before he could be arrested.
In his statement on Monday, Brig. Gen. Mwachukwu stated that circumstances leading to the incident could not be immediately ascertained since the soldier who killed his colleagues also shot himself dead.
He added that the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division and Commander, Joint Task Force, Northwest Operation Hadarin Daji Maj.-Gen. Godwin Mutkut and other senior officers had visited the location.
According to him, the GOC commiserated with troops for losing their colleagues in such an unfortunate situation.
“He urged them to be their brothers’ keepers and to report any anomaly observed amongst colleagues to forestall a recurrence.
“He also encouraged them to remain calm and committed in the discharge of their duties.
