An officer of the Nigerian Army reportedly lost his life at the weekend when troops of Sector 4 Operation Whirl Punch under the command of the General Officer Commanding, GOC 1 Division, Kaduna and troops of 167 Special Forces Battalion mistakenly engaged in a gunfight.
Reports indicated that Captain J. A Afangide attached to Sector 4 of Operation Whirl Punch was killed in the crossfire at about 1am on Saturday, August 31, following a misidentification of target.
A soldier attached to 167 Special Forces Battalion whose name could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report was injured in the exchange of friendly fire, a source told Scudnews on Monday.
It was learned that the incident occurred when the troops deployed along the Abuja-Kaduna highway from different commands were acting on an intelligence that armed bandits were about crossing the road to Kuyeri Hills in Kaduna State.
After laying ambush awaiting the bandits, the troops misidentified the target on sighting the other party and exchanged gunfire, resulting in the death of a Captain.
The body of the dead officer has been reportedly deposited at the morgue of the Military Hospital, Kaduna, where the injured soldier is said to be receiving treatment.
Defence spokesperson, Major General Edward Buba could not be immediately reached for comments on the incident.
