‘Frustrated’ Nigerian Soldier Guns Self Down in Yobe

In what came as a surprise, a soldier identified as Samaila Gabriel, recently shot himself dead in Yobe state.

The deceased with service number 09NA/63/2867 was said to have taken his life out of frustration.

One of Gabriel's  colleagues told TheCable that he got frustrated as a result of the refusal of the authorities to transfer him out of the north-east since he was posted there three years ago.

Some of the soldiers on the battlefront have not been allowed to visit their loved ones in years, while many have been killed by insurgents.

Gabriel's corpse has reportedly been deposited at the Sani Abacha hospital in Damaturu, the state capital.

The army is yet to make a statement on the issue but TheCable understands that investigation is ongoing.

Sani Usman, spokesman of the army, did not respond to a text message which TheCable sent to his telephone line on Saturday evening.

The tragic incident comes less than a month after a staff sergeant identified as Silas Ninyo killed one K. Mani, his superior, and injured four people in the Chibok local government area of Borno state.

Ninyo took his own life after wreaking the havoc.

Mani was reportedly killed in the process of disarming the sergeant who was said to be drunk.

A source had told TheCable that a team of soldiers led by Mani, who was providing security for worshippers during Sunday service, received a distress call that Ninyo was beating civilians for unknown reasons.

Mani had led his men to the scene but lost his life.

"Captain Mani, accompanied by soldiers, moved to the scene to free the civilian but while trying to disarm the errant soldier, Captain Mani was shot dead by Staff Sergeant Ninyo, who later killed himself," the source had said.