Some soldiers on Thursday went on rampage burning several houses at Naka, the administrative headquarters of Gwer West local government area of Benue State.
The soldiers, it was gathered, took the action following the alleged killing of one of them by the people of the area.
The slain soldier was said to have come to the area to buy bread when some persons approached him to show his identity card.
The request, it was gathered, became necessary because some herdsmen had invaded the areas in the past wearing army uniforms.
It was learnt that the soldier was unable to show any means of identity.
He was said to have been taken to a military camp near Naka and none of the military men could not identify him.
The men took him away and allegedly killed him.
However, on Thursday, soldiers went on rampage after they could not find one of them suspected to have been killed by the people of the area.
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The deceased was identified as Danlami Gambo.
The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Olabisi Ayeni, who spoke on the development stated:
“On 18 April 2018, at about 3:30 p.m., troops of 707 Sf Brigade deployed at Naka in Gwer West LGA of Benue State observed the absence of PTE Danlami Gambo from his duty post. The soldier’s rifle was however found at the location.
“It was gathered that the soldier was last seen receiving a phone call but left in search of network and did not return. Troops immediately conducted patrols to search for the soldier during the search, at about 6.10 p.m., our troops observed blood stains along a footpath leading to a newly dug grave. They immediately dug out the grave and the dead body of the missing soldier was found butchered. The corpse was later exhumed and deposited at the Nigerian Air Force mortuary, Makurdi.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that some locals were involved in the killing of the soldier which has led to the arrest of some suspects by a team dispatched from the unit to the scene of the incident. Investigations are ongoing to unravel the circumstances that led to the death of the soldier and to also arrest all the culprits involved.”