Troops Arrest Five After Fatal Unauthorised Shooting at Maiduguri Wedding, begin probe
The Headquarters Theatre Command of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), has arrested five individuals following a reckless shooting incident that claimed the life of a young girl during a social gathering in Borno State.
The tragedy occurred at approximately 2:00 p.m. on April 4, 2026, at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Teachers Staff Quarters in the Ngomari area.
According to military reports, members of an escort team attached to a Local Government Area Chairman engaged in sporadic celebratory gunfire during a wedding ceremony. One of the stray bullets fatally struck an innocent child.
Following the incident, OPHK troops, in collaboration with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), launched an immediate operation to track down those responsible. Five suspects were apprehended:
Muhammad Husaini (28), Abba Jiddu (25), Abba Kolo Mohammed (20), Ali Adam (20) and Nura Mohammed (18).
The suspects are currently in military custody and are expected to be transferred to civil authorities for formal prosecution.
The Theatre Command has issued a stern condemnation of the event, labeling the actions “highly unprofessional” and a “clear violation” of firearm regulations.
Military officials emphasized that the CJTF, while a vital partner in regional security is a support group with no mandate for the indiscriminate use of weapons, especially in civilian-populated zones.
“The Civilian Joint Task Force operates strictly as a support group and is not permitted to engage in indiscriminate use of firearms under any circumstances,” the Command stated.
A joint investigation is now underway, involving the Office of the Senior Adviser on Security to the Borno State Government, to ensure all culpable parties face the full weight of the law.
“The Command extended its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased, reaffirming its mission to prioritize civilian protection and accountability within its ranks and partners.”