Troops Arrest Five Suspects over ‘Shooting that Killed’ 14-year-old in Maiduguri

The headquarters theatre command of joint task force (JTF) in the north north-east, Operation HADIN KAI says its troops have arrested five suspects linked to an “unauthorised discharge of firearms” that killed a 14-year-old girl on Saturday in Maiduguri, Borno state.

In a statement on Sunday, Amnesty International said the secondary school student was killed on Saturday, April 4, after she was hit by a stray bullet inside her home.

Amnesty International said the shot was reportedly fired by military personnel engaged in celebratory gunfire during a wedding ceremony at a nearby event centre.

However, giving an update on the incident in a statement on Monday, Sani Uba, media information officer of Operation HADIN KAI, said troops, working with the civilian joint task force (CJTF), arrested five suspects linked to the “unlawful use of firearms during a social event”.

According to the statement, the incident occurred around 2pm on Saturday, when vigilantes and an escort team attached to the chairman of a local government area (LGA) engaged in sporadic firing into the air during a wedding celebration at Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Teachers’ Staff quarters, leading to the teenager’s death.

Uba said troops traced and apprehended five suspects, who will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and prosecution.

“The Theatre Command strongly condemns the act, describing it as unprofessional, unauthorised, and a clear violation of established regulations governing the handling and use of firearms,” the statement reads.