OPHK Arrests Five Over Wedding Gunfire That Killed Young Girl in Maiduguri

OPHK Arrests Five Over Wedding Gunfire That Killed Young Girl in Maiduguri

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

Troops of the Northeast Joint Task Force under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have arrested five suspects over the alleged illegal possession and reckless discharge of firearms in the Ngomari Old Airport area of Maiduguri, Borno State, in an incident that claimed the life of a young girl.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday in Maiduguri by the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, who said the military had launched a full investigation into the tragic shooting linked to stray bullets in the community.

According to the statement, the incident occurred at about 2:00 p.m. on April 4, 2026, during a wedding ceremony held at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Teachers’ Quarters along Airport Road in Maiduguri. The suspects were alleged to have engaged in sporadic gunfire into the air during the social event, an action that reportedly led to the death of an innocent girl.

Uba said the suspects were later identified by vigilantes as members of an escort team attached to the chairman of a local government area in the state.

“The Headquarters Theatre Command, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, has taken decisive action following the incident involving the unauthorised discharge of firearms in Borno State, which tragically resulted in the loss of an innocent girl-child,” he stated.

He added that troops moved swiftly after the incident and arrested the five suspects allegedly connected to the shooting. They were identified as Muhammad Husaini, 28; Abba Jiddu, 25; Abba Kolo Mohammed, 20; Ali Adam, 20; and Nura Mohammed, 18.

Military authorities described the action of the suspects as unlawful, reckless and contrary to all rules guiding the handling and use of firearms, especially in civilian areas.

The statement noted that the suspects are currently in custody and would be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution in line with the law.

Reacting to the incident, the Theatre Commander of OPHK, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, strongly condemned the act, describing it as unprofessional, unauthorised and a serious breach of regulations governing firearms use.

He stressed that members of the Civilian Joint Task Force and other support personnel are not allowed to engage in indiscriminate firing under any circumstance, particularly in populated civilian communities.

Abubakar also assured residents that the command had commenced a detailed investigation in collaboration with relevant state authorities, including the Office of the Senior Adviser on Security to the Borno State Government, to establish the full facts surrounding the incident and ensure justice is served.

He said although calm has returned to the area, troops have maintained heightened vigilance to preserve peace and order.

The military command also extended condolences to the bereaved family, assuring the public of its commitment to accountability, justice and the protection of lives and property across the theatre of operation.