Soldier Mysteriously Commits Suicide After Being Posted To Fight Boko Haram

Nigerian Army (File Photo)

Soldier Who Was Drafted From Ilorin To North East Kills Self.

A Nigerian Army captain who was deployed from Ilorin to the  North-east has killed himself, military sources have disclosed.

The officer was said to have flipped his rifle towards his stomach and shot himself at 7 Division Medical Centre in Maiduguri on June 18.

He was referred to the facility for medical examination and treatments.

He was drafted to the North-east as part of the war against Boko Haram from the Nigerian Army 22 Armoured Brigade in Ilorin.

The brigade has notified appropriate authorities of the development, including the Defence Headquarters.

Before the officer killed himself, he threatened shooting a storekeeper at the medical centre armoury, who fled for safety.

After the scare, the captain killed himself. He was rushed for treatment, but passed on shortly thereafter.

The officer  whose name has been withheld was attached to troops operating in Mafa Local Government Area, Borno State, the heart of Boko Haram onslaught.

He collected his gun from the armoury on June 18, saying he was returning to Mafa to join his team the next day.

The nature of his ailments prior to the suicide could not be ascertained before filing this report.

The Defence Headquarters and the 7 Division spokespersons did not return requests for comments Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

The incident occurred seven months after a soldier opened fire on a captain, killing him before killing himself. That sparked renewed fears about post traumatic stress disorder amongst troops combating insurgents.

The military said the matter would be investigated, but the outcome remained unknown.

Naija News reports that the Army has been into different operations lately fighting insurgents in different parts of the country.