A female soldier enforcing a curfew imposed by the Adamawa State government has allegedly gunned down a captain at a checkpoint in Yola, the state capital.

Sources told journalists that the female soldier, Lance Corporal Nkiru, shot her senior colleague who intervened in the altercation between her and civilians at the checkpoint.

Ms Nkiru had ordered all motorists returning home during the curfew to turn back, but they explained that they were workers on essential duty.

The soldier was said to be adamant despite the explanation.

“Some people stopped at the checkpoint and explained themselves as workers on essential duties, but the female soldier insisted they must turn back,” a security officer at the scene told journalists.

The security officer added, “A captain came forward to intervene. Unfortunately, she had already cocked her rifle, so she just fired and killed him accidentally.”

He said the captain was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre Yola, where he was confirmed dead, while the female soldier was arrested and whisked away by soldiers who arrived at the scene.

Reportedly, efforts to get an official statement from the Army at the 23 Armoured Brigade Yola fell through as the Commander, Brigadier General Muhammad Gambo, stated that journalists must seek an appointment in writing before he could address them.

However, Nigerian Army spokesperson, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, did not immediately return The Gazette’s request for comments.

The curfew in Adamawa was imposed after residents broke into the government warehouse and carted away several items, including palliative meant to cushion the effect of subsidy removal.