By Linus Aleke in Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) announced that a naval rating involved in a fatal shooting incident will be facing a court martial. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of October 25, 2024, left one personnel of Operation Fansan Yamman dead after a colleague opened fire under what has been described as “questionable circumstances.”
In an official statement, Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, detailed that the accused, identified as Leading Seaman (LS) Akila A, deployed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Dansadua, allegedly began firing indiscriminately, resulting in the death of his fellow military personnel. Akila was subsequently detained, disarmed, and an investigation is underway.
“The administrative procedure for notifying the family of the deceased is ongoing,” Major General Buba stated, noting that this protocol is the reason for withholding the deceased’s name. He confirmed that upon conclusion of the investigation, the case would proceed to a court martial specifically convened to address instances of misconduct among military personnel.
Trigger-Happy Naval Rating to Face Court Martial Over Shooting Incident:
The October 25 incident is not an isolated occurrence involving naval personnel in similar situations. Ex-Seaman Abbas Haruna, a former Nigerian Navy rating, was previously implicated in a comparable incident during Exercise Ayam Akpatuma, a DHQ-led joint operation.
On October 2, 2024, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Acting Director of Defence Information, addressed the press on Haruna’s case, condemning his actions as a grave disciplinary breach capable of endangering colleagues’ lives.
In yet another incident, Seaman Abdurasheed Mohammed was apprehended in August 2024 for allegedly murdering the son of the 18th Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ishaya Ibrahim (retired), in Maitama District, Abuja.
On August 28, the FCT Police Command paraded Mohammed alongside other suspects as part of a crackdown on criminal elements in Abuja. The suspect was detained during a routine stop-and-search operation on August 18, driving a black Prado SUV. This event drew attention to the issue of indiscipline within the ranks of naval personnel.
Responding to the allegations against Mohammed, Nigerian Navy Spokesperson Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu confirmed the Navy’s awareness of the incident and acknowledged the accused’s affiliation with the Navy.
Commodore Adams-Aliu assured the public that the Navy is committed to upholding both military and civilian judicial processes to ensure justice. “The proper procedure for both military and civil judicial processes will certainly be followed to first establish a prima facie case and then ascertain guilt as determined by a competent court,” he stated.
These incidents have sparked further scrutiny of disciplinary protocols within the Nigerian Navy and the broader military establishment. The Defence Headquarters reiterated its commitment to holding all personnel accountable, emphasizing the need to uphold military discipline and operational integrity in all engagements.
