Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Nigerian Air Force officer kills colleague in accidental discharge

The officer will face charges because accidental discharge is not a tenable excuse from prosecution under the Armed Forces Act.

• October 4, 2020
Airforce
Nigeria Airforce Officers used to illustrate the story

A Nigerian Air Force officer on a peace-keeping deployment was killed on Saturday evening in Kaduna State, gunned down by a fellow airman who claimed accidental discharge, Peoples Gazette has learnt. 

Military sources familiar with the incident said it happened at an outpost in Gidan Waya, a Southern Kaduna community where security forces were deployed to forestall sectarian clashes.

The deceased officer was immediately evacuated to a military barracks in Rukuba, near Jos, shortly after he was shot at about 5:00 p.m., but he was pronounced dead upon arrival, military sources said.

The late officer was an aircraftman. The Gazette has withheld his identity because the military needs additional time to notify his loved ones of the tragedy.

The officer who fire the fatal shot, AD Jesse, has been arrested and expected to be put on trial for murder, sources said. 

The incident occurred under DC Nwakonobi, a Nigerian Army colonel leading the joint military operation in Southern Kaduna. 

A spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force did not immediately return requests seeking comments about the development Sunday afternoon.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Biden with Trump

World

Biden weaponised U.S. law to prosecute anti-abortion activists: Justice Department

The Justice Department found that Mr Biden’s administration was partial against pro-life activists.

Diego in hospital

Sport

New trial over Diego Maradona’s death begins in Argentina

A new trial over the death of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona will begin on Tuesday, with seven members of his medical team facing charges of negligent homicide.

Maja T

World

Orbán election loss raises hope for jailed German activist

The election defeat of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has raised hopes for improved conditions for a German activist imprisoned in Hungary.

Police

States

Vigilante killed, suspected bandits nabbed in Bauchi gunfight: Police

The 27-year-old vigilante, who hailed from Mai-Ari village of Maimadi ward, sustained gunshot wounds when security men engaged in a gunfight with the bandits.

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule

Politics

Sule inaugurates N3 billion Loko township roads

Governor Abdullahi Sule has inaugurated a 3.2-kilometre Loko link and township roads project worth N2.8 billion in Nasarawa LGA.

LAWMA building

Lagos

LAWMA, support group partner to boost environmental awareness  

Mr Gbadegesin said the partnership was mooted when he received the leadership of the group.