2 soldiers die in training due to accidental discharge

Two soldiers of the Nigerian Army were killed due to an accidental discharge that happened during in-theatre training on Wednesday, September 19, 2018.

According to a statement by Army, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, has ordered an inquiry into the unfortunate incident.

"We deeply regret to announce the death of 2 soldiers of 192 Battalion who lost their lives as a result of an accidental discharge during in-theatre training today.

"The Chief of Army Staff has directed the Commander 26 Brigade Gwoza to immediately constitute a Board of Inquiry to unravel the circumstances that led to this unfortunate situation," the statement read.

Report says soldier committed murder-suicide

Despite the Army's statement that the two soldiers died in a training accident, there are reports that it was a murder-suicide that took place.

According to military sources that spoke to Premium Times, a staff sergeant attached to 192 Battalion in Gwoza, identified as Adegor Okpako, killed another sergeant colleague, identified as Saka, and seriously wounded three other soldiers and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in a random shooting before he killed himself around 2:50pm on Wednesday.

Okpako was said to have carried out the murder-suicide just two days after he returned to the battalion from a few days' break.