A soldier attached to Reconnaissance Battalion 243 Ibereko, Badagry, LCP Mahmud Sulaiman, turned the gun on him after he shot dead a customs officer at the Seme border on Wednesday.
The Nigeria News Agency (NAN) concluded that the incident occurred when the team leader was attempting to retrieve Sulaiman’s gun as a result of his strange behavior.
“While trying to retrieve the gun, which he resisted, he accidentally fired a shot and the stray bullet hit a customs inspector, CN Walter.
“The customs officer, who was attached to the Seme border zone command, was rushed to Badagry general hospital for treatment.
“But unfortunately, the customs officer died Thursday around 6:40 am in the hospital.
“Subsequently, Sulaiman also shot himself and died instantly,” the source said.
NAN concluded that the incident occurred around 7:45 p.m. Wednesday at the Oloko, Gbaji checkpoint on the Badagry-Seme highway.
It has been learned that Sulaiman, who was recently redeployed to the Ibereko Battalion in the theater of operations in the northeast, has behaved abnormally since taking office in Badagry.
“He always cocked his AK 47 rifle fully loaded with ammunition, an action that forced his team leader to report the matter to the 243rd Reconnaissance Battalion commander, Col. Nicholas Rume, where he served.
“The commander immediately ordered that the weapon be taken away from him,” he said.
Contacted, the head of customs public relations at the Seme border, Mr. Abdulahi Husiain, confirmed the incident, saying the situation is under control.
“It’s true, it was an accident but the situation is now under control.
“It is unfortunate that the soldier committed suicide,” he said. (NAN)
