The Nigerian Army has instituted investigations into the unfortunate incident of a soldier who killed his colleagues and himself at Forward Operations Base (FOB), Rabbah, Sokoto State last weekend.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening at the FOB, where troops were deployed for internal security operations.
Lt. Sam Oladapo was shot dead allegedly by Lance Corporal Nwanbodo Chinoso, who also shot two other soldiers including the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Nigeria Army Forward Base Operation Units in the Raba local government area of Sokoto State.
He shot the RSM of the unit, Sergeant Iliyasu Inusa, and a Private Soldier Attahiru Muhammad before he took his own life.
The remains of the deceased officers and three soldiers have been deposited at the morgue at the Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital.
Circumstances leading to the incident could not be immediately ascertained, as the soldier, who killed his colleagues also shot himself and terminated his own life.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 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 and commiserated with troops for losing their colleagues in such an unfortunate situation.
A statement by Brigadier Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, Director, Army Public Relations, quoted the GOC as urging troops to be their brother’s keepers and report any anomaly observed among their colleagues in order to forestall a similar incident.
“He also encouraged them to remain calm and committed in the discharge of their duties. The authorities of the Nigerian Army are deeply concerned about this unusual and ugly development and have, therefore, instituted a Board of Inquiry, BOI, to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident”, he said.
