Army probes extra-judicial killing of Mustapha in Maiduguri

The Theatre Commander of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, has begun a process to investigate the alleged extra-judicial killing of Abdulrahman Mustapha along the Polo Road, Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

According to the Nigerian Army (NA), Mustapha, also known as Abchin, was allegedly killed by the troops near the Federal High Court, located on Polo Road, Maiduguri.

In a statement, yesterday, in Maiduguri, the OPHK Media Information Officer, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, said: “The attention of the Headquarters Theatre Command, Operation Hadin Kai, has been drawn to some posts circulating on social media alleging that on March 22, 2026, troops shot and killed Abdulrahman Mustapha, also referred to as Abchin, in the Polo axis, near the Maiduguri Federal High Court.

“Accordingly, the individual, who was reportedly unarmed, was returning from a Sallah visit, while the posts attributed the incident as an extrajudicial killing, with an alleged violation of constitutional rights, lack of transparency, and improper handling of the deceased murder.

The followers of the posts, therefore, called for an independent investigation, accountability, and compensation to the families of the deceased.

“Beyond Army’s rules of engagement and professionalism, the Theatre Command regards these allegations as very serious and has accordingly initiated appropriate processes to establish the facts about the incident

“However, preliminary operational indications suggest that the incident, which reportedly occurred at 11:40 p.m., may not be straightforward and could have an underlying security implication.”

Uba, therefore, gave the assurance that a comprehensive and an impartial investigation is currently ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident, including compliance with the applicable rules of engagement and operational procedures.

However, regarding the ongoing counter-terrorism operations, Uba revealed: “Our initial findings have indicated the possibility that troops may have encountered individuals consistent with a Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) reconnaissance elements or a sleeper cell operating within the Polo community of Maiduguri.

He noted that the troops’ assessment was based on several factors, including reports that the individual in question allegedly attempted to snatch a soldier’s rifle, describing it as an action indicative of hostile intent and a direct threat to soldiers’ safety.

Additionally, the individual, he said, was reportedly found in possession of multiple identification cards bearing different names, including a foreign identification card from the Niger Republic, which may suggest cross-border movement, possible infiltration, or the use of a decoy identity.

Furthermore, he was also found in possession of a bottle of Tutolin syrup and several wraps of weed suspected to be cannabis sativa.

According to the information officer, the individual was reportedly in the company of two unidentified women who fled the scene, raising concerns about possible accomplices who are currently at large.

Meanwhile, eyewitness accounts in the community also suggest that the individual’s conduct prior to the incident was suspicious, prompting a distress call to the nearest military post in the Maiduguri metropolis.

“These preliminary details remain subject to verification and should not be construed as definitive conclusions.