Nigerian soldier opens fire at northeast base, killing two

By Chinedu Asadu

A Nigerian soldier opened fire in a military base, killing an aid worker and a fellow soldier in the country’s northeast region where troops are fighting decade-long extremist violence, authorities said.

Samson Nantip Zhakom, a spokesman for the Nigerian army, said troops at the Damboa base in Borno province took steps to “immediately neutralize” the unidentified soldier, indicating that he had been killed.

A helicopter pilot for the U.N. Humanitarian Aid Service was injured in the shooting and is in stable condition, said Zhakom of the incident which took place on Thursday.

“A detailed investigation into the incident and subsequent remedial actions have commenced into the highly regrettable incident,” said Zhakom.

Aid worker from Medecins du Monde

The aid worker who was killed had worked for the group, Medecins du Monde (Doctors of the World), according to the U.N. in Nigeria.

The shooting incident shocked the humanitarian community in northeastern Nigeria where aid workers have provided life-saving assistance to millions affected by the insurgency by Islamic extremists.

The shooting prompted the UN air service — which transports humanitarian workers and supplies in the troubled region — to immediately suspend helicopter operations in the area.

The killing of the humanitarian worker is “deeply disturbing and sad,” Matthias Schmale, a humanitarian coordinator for the U.N. in Nigeria.

“All humanitarian staff working in northeast Nigeria deserve our fullest respect for their courage and commitment to stay and deliver life-saving assistance to people in need in often difficult and dangerous circumstances. Humanitarian workers must be protected,” said Schmale.

Motive unknown

Little is known about the soldier in question or his motivation for the attack though analysts have in the past raised concerns about the mental well-being of some of the security personnel fighting the war.

Allegations of human rights abuses committed by soldiers are also rampant, especially from locals living close to them.

“The psychological problem — the trauma and all that — could have something to do with this but on the other hand, soldiers misbehave a lot with their guns,” said Jack Vince, a Borno-based security analyst.