Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, have arrested five vigilantes following an accidental discharge of a firearm that resulted in the death of a teenage girl in Maiduguri.
The suspects were identified as Muhammad Husaini, 28; Abba Jiddu, 25; Abba Kolo Mohammed, 20; Ali Adam, 20; and Nura Mohammed, 18.
Spokesman for Operation Hadin Kai, Sani Uba, disclosed this in a statement, saying the incident occurred at about 2:00 p.m. on April 4 in the Ngomari area.
According to him, the vigilantes—attached to a local government chairman—were firing sporadically into the air during a wedding celebration at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Teachers’ Staff Quarters when the tragedy occurred.
“The reckless act led to the death of a young girl,” Uba said.
He noted that troops responded swiftly after the incident, tracked down the suspects and took them into military custody. The individuals are expected to be handed over to appropriate authorities for further investigation and prosecution.
The military high command condemned the incident, describing it as “highly unprofessional, unauthorised, and a clear violation of established regulations governing the handling and use of firearms.”
Uba reiterated that the Civilian Joint Task Force operates strictly as a support group and is not permitted to engage in indiscriminate use of firearms, particularly in civilian environments.
He added that a comprehensive investigation had been launched in collaboration with relevant state authorities, including the Office of the Senior Adviser on Security to the Borno State Government, to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident and ensure accountability.
