Soldier ‘Accidentally’ Shoots Self Dead, Nigerian Army Reacts

• The Army has reacted to the death of one of its soldiers, reports claimed committed suicide
• In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Army debunked the suicide claims and attributed the soldier's death to negligence in handling his weapon
• Meanwhile, the deceased soldier, Boyi Thankgod, was reportedly part of the Brigade Standby Force on Armed Forces Remembrance Day, in Nigeria on January 15

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

The Nigerian Army has reacted to the reports that a soldier committed suicide by shooting himself dead in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

The Army in a statement issued on Wednesday, January 17, and posted on its website X account (formerly Twitter), dismissed the reports.

How the soldier died

Recall that the Nigerian soldier identified as Boyi Thankgod reportedly killed himself at the Alamala Barrack in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.

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The Nigerian Army personnel was said to have shot himself in the head when he was on standby duty on Armed Forces Remembrance Day on Monday, January 15, 2024.

Army reacts as soldier kills self

But, reacting to the incident on Wednesday, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 81 Division, Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni insisted that the deceased did not commit suicide.

Ayeni explained that the dead soldier “handled his personal weapon negligently and misfired, which resulted in his death”.

Ayeni stated thus:

"The attention of Headquarters 81 Division Nigerian Army ( NA) has been drawn to insinuations making the rounds on social media alleging that a soldier of 35 Artillery Brigade terminated his life due to non payment of Ration Cash Allowance (RCA).

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"However, investigation into the immediate cause of the incident, indicated that the deceased soldier reportedly handled his personal weapon negligently and misfired, which resulted to his death. His colleagues who heard the sound of gunshot had rushed to the scene of the incident, only to find the soldier in the pool of his blood with gunshot wounds on the head.

"Further investigation has since commenced to unravel the circumstances and possible remote cause of the unfortunate incident, while the remains of the soldier has been evacuated and deposited at the Federal Medical Centre Abeokuta.

"The Division, through the Commander 35 Artillery Brigade, has informed the deceased family and also expressed heartfelt condolences and sympathy over the unfortunate incident."

Police arrest fake soldier 'defrauding residents'

Also, the Nigerian Army on Thursday, January 11, announced that it had arrested a fake soldier in Awe, headquarters of Awe local government area of Nasarawa state.

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Ogun: Tragedy as Nigerian soldier shoots self, dies at Alamala Barrack, details emerge

The Nasarawa state police spokesman, DSP Rahman Nansel, made this known in a statement issued to newsmen in Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital.

According to the statement, the suspect claimed to be a soldier attached to 231 Battalion Biu, Borno state, but the police investigation proved otherwise.

Soldiers arrested for torturing Rivers man in viral video

In another development, Legit.ng reported earlier that the Nigerian Army identified and arrested two soldiers involved in the brutality of a civilian in Rivers state.

The unprofessional conduct of the soldiers was captured in a viral video.

Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, acting deputy director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, disclosed this in a statement issued via the Nigerian Army Facebook page on Wednesday, January 10.

Source: Legit.ng