A Nigerian Army officer, Lt. Samson Haruna, has died after sustaining severe burns when his wife allegedly set him ablaze during a domestic dispute at Wellington Bassey Barracks, Ibagwa, Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.

Zagazola Makama learnt that the tragic incident occurred on Sept. 22, 2025.

The source said the officer, who was also a medical doctor attached to the 6 Battalion Regimental Medical Officer (RMO), had a heated argument with his wife, Mrs. Samson Haruna, which resulted in her dousing him with petrol (PMS) and setting him on fire.

“The officer sustained severe burns and was immediately stabilised at the Military Reference Section (MRS) in the barracks before being evacuated to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital for further management,” the source said.

The officer, however, succumbed to his injuries despite efforts by medical personnel to save his life.

It was further gathered that the suspect has been arrested and is currently in custody while an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a suspected armed robber and recovered a locally-made pistol and several stolen items in Gwagwalada Area Council.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the arrest followed a complaint lodged by one Kabiru Ahmed of Kasuwan Dare, Gwagwalada, who reported that two men swapped his Moniepoint POS machine on Oct. 1, 2025, at about 2:55 p.m.

Detectives from the Gwagwalada Division swiftly acted on the report and apprehended one Abdul Abdullahi of Kano State, who confessed to being part of a syndicate notorious for POS swapping and robbery within the area.

The suspect named his accomplices as Yusuf Abdul, Mustapha Abba, Faruk, and Abu Chibola, and later led police operatives to their hideout in Angwan Dodo, Gwagwalada.

However, the other suspects escaped through the ceiling and roof of the building towards a nearby river upon sighting the operatives. One female suspect, Rahama Michael was arrested at the scene.

Items recovered include one fabricated locally-made pistol, six POS machines, seven ATM cards, 37 SIM cards, six wristwatches, and one axe.

The State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has commenced a full investigation, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing members of the syndicate.

Fresh details have emerged over the controversial killing of four people, including two students, allegedly by soldiers in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred after the burial of a traditional ruler in Turan community. Soldiers reportedly intercepted mourners on their way back, demanding money in exchange for providing security escort. When the request was rejected, the situation escalated into gunfire, leaving two students and two youths dead, while several others sustained injuries.

Cletus Iorkyaa, President of the Turan Development Association, said the soldiers initially demanded N1 million from the grieving family. “The soldiers requested N1 million, so we offered them about N450,000, but they said no,” he revealed. He added that when local youths volunteered to provide security instead, the soldiers later opened fire on the mourners.

The killings have sparked widespread outrage. Women in Jatoka staged protests demanding justice, while community members accused soldiers of abandoning the fight against bandits in the forests and instead targeting innocent villagers.

Local leaders have joined the call for accountability, demanding the withdrawal of soldiers from the area and their replacement with mobile police officers. They argued that soldiers are not trained to live within communities and should return to their barracks.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Benue has appealed for calm, assuring residents that investigations are ongoing. But tensions remain high, with protesters insisting that those responsible must be held accountable.

For the people of Turan, their demand is clear: justice for the dead and an end to what they describe as military intimidation in their community