A Nigerian soldier at Wawa Cantonment killed his wife and then himself, highlighting ongoing concerns over mental health in the military.
A Nigerian soldier identified as Lance Corporal Femi Akinleye on Saturday killed his wife, Blessing, before committing suicide at the Wawa Military Cantonment in New Bussa, Niger State. The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. inside the barracks, according to an internal military signal seen by SaharaReporters. “LCPL Akinleye Femi… committed suicide by killing his wife Blessing, and fired himself… further investigation is currently ongoing to ascertain the cause of the incident,” the message stated.
Akinleye was attached to the 22 Armoured Brigade at the facility, which is known for detaining Boko Haram suspects. Although the reason for the act remains unclear, similar incidents among soldiers have raised concerns over mental health challenges within the military. Personnel have repeatedly complained of poor welfare, prolonged deployments, and lack of psychological support. Multiple suicide cases involving service members have been recorded in recent years, prompting renewed calls for mental health interventions.