Military sources told the Gazette that the soldier, an operative of “Operation Safe Haven” who was deployed to Rafin Sanyi duty location in Sopp village, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, was found in a pool of blood, alongside his slain lover on Wednesday afternoon.

Citing an internal army memo by military authorities, our sources disclosed that the late corporal was suspected to have “misfired” his rifle, leading to the tragic incident.

“Efforts to recover the corpses are in progress,” the memo read, noting that the reason for the incident was yet to be ascertained.

The army correspondence added that the divisional police officer of Riyom Divisional Police Headquarters has been contacted on the matter.

An army spokesman did not immediately return requests from the Gazette for comments.

It was unclear whether or not the army corporal had recently returned from a tour in the ongoing war against Boko Haram. Several Nigerian soldiers have recently died of apparent suicide after suffering mental health degradation as a result of extensive deployment in the Northeast.

The gunmen stormed the town around 1 am, shooting sporadically around Masaka area of the town before abducting a businessman, Abdullahi Kalos.

Witnesses told newsmen that the gunmen also attacked policemen and burnt down their patrol van.

“I first heard gunshots around 1:30 am, then the gunshots continued.

“Through my window, I then I saw policemen returning the fire,” an eye witness that begged for anonymity said.

“The gunmen stationed their men at all the junctions in the town. I suspected they have superior firepower as the police later backed down.

“Around 4:20 am, they attacked policemen laying ambush on them near Amsharu Primary School. In the police van, there was the DPO himself in the vehicle alongside his team.

“[b]When the police retreated, the gunmen set fire on their patrol vehicle and left the town without further challenge” he added.

Also, another eyewitness told newsmen that the gunmen came in a Hilux van, three Volkswagen Sharon and many motorcycles.

Another source also said that the kidnappers numbering over 30 overpowered the policemen that led to them fleeing and abandoning their vehicle.

The source also said reinforcement from police in Kano did not come in good time as the gunmen had a field day.

The abducted businessman is well-known merchant of building materials and foodstuffs in the town.

“They left their vehicles at Plantation area and moved on foot” the eyewitness stated.

As at the time of filing this report, the Kano Police Spokesman, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa confirmed the incidence but said the information available was not adequate.