A police officer has been taken into custody after allegedly shooting a soldier dead in Futuk, Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State on Monday evening. The tragic incident started from a confrontation involving a truck linked to a Chinese mining firm.
The acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 33 Artillery Brigade, Atang Hallet Solomon, verified the event and confirmed that the officer involved is now held for questioning. Both the Army and Police forces have launched a joint probe aimed at uncovering facts and preventing any further escalation between security personnel.
Local eyewitnesses, including hunters and vigilantes, explained that the episode occurred after troops stopped a truck loaded with minerals from the Yalo mining site. According to these accounts, the driver ignored an order to halt at a checkpoint in Futuk following Maghrib prayers on Monday.
Soldiers from the 33 Artillery Brigade pursued and finally intercepted the vehicle near a bridge. A skirmish subsequently erupted between the commanding army officer and the Mobile Police (MOPOL) officer escorting the truck. During the altercation, sources claim the policeman fired his rifle, striking the soldier in the back. The soldier later succumbed to his wounds at a hospital in Gombe.
Frightened by the violent clash, residents quickly shut their shops as panic spread across the community. The truck’s driver fled the scene amid the confusion, while the soldiers restrained themselves from retaliating. Authorities appreciated their discipline, noting they managed to disarm and detain both the policeman and the truck driver before transferring them to Bauchi for further legal action.
The local authorities praised the soldiers for maintaining order and showed concerns about security operatives’ possible involvement in illicit mining activities. Community leaders urged state and federal bodies to investigate thoroughly and address problems within the system.
Despite multiple attempts, representatives from the Bauchi State Police Command did not respond to requests for comments by the time this report was published. Meanwhile, the vehicle involved has been seized, and burial arrangements for the fallen soldier are underway, following military customs.
Bauchi’s state leadership has organized a meeting between the Police Commissioner and the Commander of the 33 Artillery Brigade to ease tensions and facilitate cooperation, as the probe continues.
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