6 soldiers dismissed for killing NDLEA officer in Niger

Six soldiers responsible for the death of an NDLEA Officer, Kingsley Chimetalo have been court martialed and dismissed by the Nigeria Army.

Four of the soldiers involved have been handed over to the police while two others ran away. The four dismissed soldiers include 24 years Sani Munzani, 26 years Abubakar Auwalu, 23 years Abubakar Sani and 22 years Muazu Hassan.

It was learnt that the soldiers killed the NDLEA Officer in March 2024 when they attacked NDLEA officers for stopping them during a stop and search operation at Ramat Junction in Bida. The fight led to Chimetalo being stabbed at the back with a jack-knife by one of the suspects and his rifle taken away.

The injured officer was taken to FMC Bida where he later gave up the ghost and was confirmed dead. While investigating the incident, Police operatives attached to ‘A’ Division Bida found the officer’s rifle in a nearby bush without a magazine.

After an investigation in collaboration with 18 Brigade, Nigeria Army Bida, six soldiers were later identified, court martialed and dismissed, while two escaped.

The Niger state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun said that the four suspects were handed over to the Police on 20th May 2024 for prosecution adding that during interrogation, Sani Munzani confessed to the stabbing of the deceased.

Abiodun said that all the suspects are under investigation in SCID Minna and will be charged to court for prosecution as soon as investigation is concluded.