Soldier awaiting retirement in October commits suicide in Abia

A soldier assigned to the 144 Battalion Forward Operation Base, FOB, stationed at Ngwa High School in Aba, Abia state, allegedly committed suicide.

News360 Nigeria gathered that the incident which happened Saturday, left soldiers at the base in shock as they wondered what could have led their colleague to take his life. The late soldier would have retired from active service in October.

Our correspondent also gathered that the soldier, a senior non-commissioned soldier, Sergeant Major whose name was given as Vitalis, and hails from Okpala in Ngor-Okpala council area of Imo State, shot himself in front of the FOB gate.

The reason for the suicide in front of the military camp is still unknown as he was said to have left no suicide note.

Military sources further told our sources that until the soldier’s death, there was no known case of domestic violence or work related disciplinary action against him by the military authorities at the 144 Battalion or 14 Brigade headquarters, Ohafia, respectively.

It was also gathered that the soldier had disappeared without any trace for the past two weeks. Attempts to trace his whereabouts by colleagues as well as the military authorities were said to be unsuccessful.

However, he was alleged to have returned to the FOB and shot himself to death.

Efforts to confirm the incident from the Army Public Relations Officer, APRO, 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Lt. Prince Innocent Omale, was unsuccessful as he was yet to respond to a text message sent to his mobile number as at the time of filing this report.