At least five individuals have been taken into custody following the death of a 14-year-old girl, who was reportedly struck by a stray bullet during a wedding celebration in the Costain area of Maiduguri, Borno State.
The tragic incident occurred around 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Teachers Staff Quarters.
Sources said the bullet came from gunfire allegedly discharged by vigilantes attached to the escort team of a Local Government Area chairman.
Confirming the development on Monday, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, spokesperson for the Theatre Command of the Joint Task Force (Operation Hadin Kai), stated that troops, working alongside the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), swiftly traced and apprehended five suspects linked to the unlawful shooting.
“The troops of Operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with the CJTF, have arrested Muhammad Husaini, 28; Abba Jiddu, 25; Abba Kolo Mohammed, 20; Ali Adam, 20; and Nura Mohammed, 18, in connection with the unlawful use of firearms during a social event,” Uba said in a statement.
He described the incident as “an unprofessional and unauthorized use of firearms that led to the tragic death of a young girl” and emphasized that the CJTF is strictly a support group, not authorized to engage in indiscriminate shooting in civilian areas.
Uba added that the suspects remain in custody and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.
“A comprehensive investigation is underway in partnership with the Borno State Government’s Office of the Senior Adviser on Security to establish the full circumstances of the tragedy.”
The military also extended condolences to the family of the victim and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting civilians while maintaining law and order in the area.
Human rights group Amnesty International has urged the Federal Government to investigate the incident.
In a statement, the organisation described the killing as “a reckless act of firearm use” and called for accountability, noting that the victim was inside her home when the fatal shot was fired.