The Headquarters Theatre Command, codename ‘Operation HADIN KAI’, has commenced an investigation into allegations that its troops shot and killed a civilian, Abdulrahman Mustapha, in Maiduguri, Borno State Capital.
The incident, said to have occurred on March 22, 2026, at about 11:40 p.m. near the Federal High Court area in the Polo axis, has drawn criticism on social media, where it was described as an extrajudicial killing of an unarmed individual returning from a Sallah visit.
In a statement issued on March 25 by its Media
and Information Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the command said it considered the allegations serious and had initiated processes to establish the facts.
But, it noted that preliminary operational indicators suggest the incident may have underlying security implications, stressing that investigations were ongoing to determine the full circumstances, including whether troops complied with rules of engagement.
The command disclosed that initial findings point to the possibility that the deceased may have been linked to a reconnaissance element or sleeper cell associated with insurgent groups such as Boko Haram or Islamic State West Africa Province.
According to the statement, the individual allegedly attempted to snatch a soldier’s rifle, an act it described as a direct threat to troops’ safety.
It further claimed that multiple identification cards bearing different names, including a foreign identity from the Niger Republic, were recovered from him, raising concerns about possible cross-border movement or the use of false identities.
The military also alleged that the deceased was found with substances suspected to be cannabis and a bottle of Tutolin syrup, and was in the company of two unidentified women who fled the scene.
It added that eyewitness accounts indicated the individual’s conduct prior to the incident was suspicious and had prompted a distress call to nearby troops.
The command emphasised that the details remain preliminary and subject to verification, noting that the ongoing investigation would clarify the sequence of events and actions of all parties involved.
