According to a report by SaharaReporters, on Tuesday, multiple security sources revealed that a yet-to-be-identified Nigerian soldier, serving in Borno State, accidentally killed two of his colleagues.
According to the sources, the newly recruited soldier wrongly handled artillery weapons which misfired during an operation against Boko Haram in the Mulai area of the state.
About five soldiers who were also injured during the incident were initially taken to the 7th Division Military Hospital, Maimalari Cantonment and later moved to 44 Reference Hospital in Kaduna State.
“We were involved in various confrontations against Boko Haram terrorists within the theatre of operation last week. Sadly, during one of the incidents, a young soldier wrongly handled some artillery weapons and misfired, killing two of his colleagues while about five were injured. This happened in a location close to Mulai,” a Major told SaharaReporters.
Sources said that the families of the deceased soldiers had yet to be notified by the army authorities.
When Saharareporters contacted the Director of Army Public Relations, Major Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu for comments about the incident, he said he only knew about an accident involving some soldiers.
He said, “Information reaching me says there is nothing like that. The only incident that occurred along Baga Road was when a tricycle which was conveying four soldiers was knocked down by a vehicle from the rear.
“All four soldiers and the tricycle driver fell and were evacuated to 7 Division Military Services and Hospital for treatment.
“The driver has been discharged, while the soldiers are still receiving treatment and are reciprocating. There was no casualty.”
But SaharaReporters contacted one of the sources again, the source insisted, saying eyewitnesses had been warned by the army authorities to keep the incident to themselves.
“There are casualties and deaths. The casualties have been moved to 44 Reference Hospital in Kaduna by air ambulance for treatment due to the seriousness of the injuries.
“Those soldiers close to the scene of the attack were seriously warned not to disclose what happened there,”
the source said.
In December 2023, scores of villagers in Tudun Biri in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State were killed after multiple bombs were dropped by an army drone during a Maulud celebration.
According to eyewitnesses, when the first bomb went off, numerous people died from it.
However, as soon as they found out, more locals came to help them. One more bomb exploded, which forced the residents to leave the search and rescue operation and funeral of the dead till the following day.
According to the global rights group Amnesty International which condemned the attack, the total number of those killed or who sustained injuries was over 120.
“Such reckless use of deadly force is unlawful and lays bare the Nigerian military’s shocking disregard for the lives of those it supposedly exists to protect,” the human rights group said in a statement.
