Soldier Kills Commander, 2 Others, Self In Sokoto

A soldier has gone berserk, killing his commander and two others before committing suicide at 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.

A signal sighted by LEADERSHIP said the incident happened on Sunday, March 5, 2023 at about 1700 hours (5pm), adding that the cause of the incident was yet unknown while investigation had commenced immediately.

The signal reads, “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.”

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.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has confirmed the killing of three soldiers by their colleague at Forward Operations Base (FOB) Rabbah, Sokoto State.

In a statement issued by the director of Army Public Relations Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, he said the incident occurred in the evening of Sunday, 5th March, 2023 at the FOB, where troops were deployed for internal security operations.

He said, “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”.

The Army spokesman said 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, where he commiserated with troops for losing their colleagues in such an unfortunate situation.

He also urged the soldiers to be their brother’s keeper and “report any anomaly observed amongst their colleagues” in order to forestall such incidents.

The GOC also encouraged the troops to remain calm and be committed to the discharge of their duties.