The Borno State District Head of Molaikura Community, Modu Umara, has exonerated the military from the alleged killing of Abdulrahman Mustapha in the Polo area of Maiduguri, the state capital.

According to him, reports suggested that Mustapha struggled to disarm some soldiers while they were escorting him to an Army Captain’s office for further investigations when the gun went off.

Umara said: “Abdulrahman Mustapha visited the area in search of a road that leads to Gambouru before the residents held him down for the military’s arrest for suspicion of his behaviour.

“Mustapha drove into Molaikura community through a road from the Mamanti area with a Vibe car.

“I am not sure of his motives. When he arrived, he met a boy, and asked for directions to Gambouru. The boy said he didn’t know the place.

“The deceased pleaded with the boy to enter his car and help him locate the nearby tarred road, but the boy refused, stating that he couldn’t follow a stranger in a car.”

According to Umara, the victim, Mustapha, was shot outside Molaikura community and died on the way to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) for treatment.

On  March 24, 2026, the Amnesty International (AI) in a statement, raised the alarm over what it described as the “unlawful killing” of the victim on March 22, 2026, in the Polo area, near the Federal High Court, while calling on authorities to ensure that all suspected soldiers involved are brought to justice in a prompt and fair trial.

However, following the statement, the Nigerian Army, while confirming the incident, noted that its preliminary investigations suggested that the incident, which reportedly occurred at about 11:40 p.m., might not be straightforward and could have underlying security implications.

The Media Information Officer, North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, added that initial findings indicated the possibility that troops might have encountered individual’s consistent with Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) reconnaissance elements or a sleeper cell operating within the area where the incident occurred.

Uba said: “The assessment is based on several factors, including reports that the individual in question allegedly attempted to snatch a soldier’s rifle, an action indicative of hostile intent and a direct threat to troops’ safety.

“These preliminary details remain subject to verification and should not be construed as definitive conclusions.

“The ongoing investigations will seek to clarify all aspects of the incident, including the sequence of events, the actions of all parties involved, and any relevant operational context,” he stressed.