March 07, (THEWILL) – A soldier of the Nigerian Army, Lance Corporal Nwobobo Chinoso, on Sunday, killed his Commander and two others at Forward Operating Base, Rabah, in Sokoto State.
Chinoso, from the 223 Battalion Zuru, Kebbi State, was deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB), Rabah.
He opened fire and killed the FOB Commander, Lt. T.I. Sam-Oladapo, and two other soldiers including the Command Sergeant Major (CSM), Iliyasu Inusa and Private Attahiru Mohammed, before turning the gun on himself.
THEWILL reports that a signal on the development stated that the incident happened on Sunday, March 5, 2023, at about 1700 hours (5pm).
The cause of the incident was yet unknown but investigation had commenced, the signal said.
“At about 051700A MAR 23. LCPL Nwobobo Chinnoso of 223 Battalion Zuru, Attached to 26 and Deployed at Forward Operating Base RABAH, opened fire and Killed the Forward Operating Base Commander Lt. TI SAM-OLADAPO, The Command Sergeant Major (CSM) SSGT Iliyasu Inusa and Pte Attahiru Mohammed, inside the Commander’s accommodation before Killing himself,” the signal read.
The remains of the deceased officers and three soldiers have been deposited at the morgue at the Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army said it had instituted investigations into the unfortunate incident.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement, said the sad and rare incident occurred on the evening of Sunday, March 5, 2023, at the FOB, where troops were deployed for internal security operations.
He noted that the circumstances leading to the incident could not be immediately ascertained as the soldier, who killed his colleagues also shot himself immediately.
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 the troops for losing their colleagues in such an unfortunate situation.
The GOC urged them to be their brother’s keepers and report any anomaly observed amongst their colleagues in order to forestall such incidents. 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.
“It is envisaged that the findings of the BOI will help forestall such ugly and bizarre occurrences in the future,” he said.
