Army detains soldier over accidental shooting of colleague in Borno

The Nigerian Army has detained one of its personnel following an accidental shooting that left a fellow soldier injured at a military position in Borno State.

In a post shared on X by security analyst Zagazola Makama, he cited military sources who disclosed that the incident involved a soldier serving with the Army’s 25 Brigade and occurred at about 6:00 a.m. on June 20 at Sierra 7, a military defensive location in Damboa Local Government Area of the state.

Security sources told Makama that the soldier accidentally discharged his weapon while inside the military position, resulting in a gunshot injury to a colleague.

“According to the sources, the soldier negligently discharged his weapon while within the military position, resulting in a gunshot wound to a fellow soldier,” Makama said.  

The injured soldier was immediately given medical attention before being evacuated to a field ambulance facility for further treatment.

Military authorities said the soldier responsible for the accidental discharge was swiftly disarmed after the incident and taken into custody.

The sources added that he is currently being detained, pending further investigation and possible disciplinary action.

The Army also stressed the need for personnel to strictly comply with weapons-handling procedures and established safety protocols to prevent similar incidents in operational areas.

According to the military, adherence to safety measures remains critical in ensuring the protection of personnel and preventing avoidable accidents during operations.

Authorities have commenced an investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the accidental discharge.