An officer of the Nigeria Police Force was arrested after the fatal shooting of a soldier in Futuk, Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG)eports that the incident, which occurred on Monday evening, sparked tension in the community and prompted a swift joint investigation by both the Nigerian Army and the Police Force.
The Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 33 Artillery Brigade Bauchi, Atang Hallet Solomon, confirmed the development, saying the officer had been taken into custody.
“The case is currently under joint investigation by the Police and the Army. Discussions are ongoing between the two agencies to ensure a thorough investigation and to prevent escalation,” Hallet told Daily Trust.
Local hunters and vigilantes in Futuk told newsmen that the clash stemmed from a dispute involving a truck allegedly linked to a Chinese mining company.
The truck, reportedly loaded with minerals from the Yalo mining site, was intercepted after its driver ignored an order to stop at a military checkpoint.
Soldiers from the 33 Artillery Brigade pursued and halted the vehicle near a bridge.
Eyewitnesses said a heated argument broke out between the commanding officer of the soldiers and a Mobile Police (MOPOL) officer assigned to escort the truck.
“During the altercation, the policeman raised his rifle and shot the army officer in the back,” a witness said.
TNG learnt that the shooting triggered panic in Futuk, with traders hurriedly closing shops for fear of reprisals. The truck driver reportedly fled the scene in the confusion.
Local government officials, however, commended the soldiers for showing restraint.
Instead of retaliating, they disarmed the MOPOL officer, arrested both him and the driver, and transferred them to Bauchi for further action.
The wounded soldier was rushed to a hospital in Gombe but later died from his injuries. His remains have been deposited in the morgue, with burial arrangements ongoing in line with military tradition.
The police officer remains in custody, while the impounded truck is being held as evidence.
Hunters and vigilantes alleged that the minerals were illegally extracted and hinted that the policeman may have been on an unlawful escort mission.
They argued that the refusal of the truck to stop at a checkpoint, the decision of a trained officer to shoot a soldier, and the driver’s escape all raised suspicions that require a “thorough and transparent investigation.”
According to Daily Trust, the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police met with the Commander of the 33 Artillery Brigade, Brig.-Gen. U.J. Simon, to douse tension and ensure the matter is handled without sparking inter-agency conflict.