Stray bullets mistakenly hit three students, killing one during a gun battle between troops of Operation Whirl Stroke and bandits in Jato-Aka, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
The incident occurred at about 3:20pm on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 p.m. while soldiers were returning from a routine patrol in the area.
According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, trouble started when the patrol team sighted some suspected bandits on a motorcycle carrying firearms.
On sighting the troops, the hoodlums opened fire. The soldiers immediately engaged them in a gun duel.
In the exchange of fire, one of the hoodlums was shot dead, while others escaped, abandoning their motorcycle.
Unfortunately, three students of ATM Divine Academy Science and Technical Secondary School, Jato-Aka, who were closing from school at the time, were hit by stray bullets.
One female student identified as Songo Gloria, was later confirmed dead by a doctor at NKST Hospital, Jato-Aka, while the other two were admitted and are responding to treatment.
The corpse of the neutralised bandit was also deposited at the NKST Hospital Mortuary.
A military source confirmed the incident, stressing that the troops only acted in self-defence after being fired upon by the armed hoodlums.
He described the death of the student as an unfortunate accident, assuring that efforts would be made to prevent a repeat of such incidents.
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