Soldier Kills Wife, Commits Suicide Inside Wawa Military Cantonment in Niger State

A Nigerian Army personnel has reportedly taken his own life after killing his wife inside the Wawa Military Cantonment in New Bussa, Kainji, Niger State. The tragic incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 11, 2025.

According to a military signal published by Sahara Reporters, the soldier, identified as Lance Corporal Femi Akinleye of the 22 Armoured Brigade, was on barracks duty when he shot his wife, Blessing, before turning the gun on himself. Both bodies have been deposited at the military hospital within the barracks, and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.

Wawa Cantonment, a heavily guarded facility known for housing hundreds of Boko Haram detainees over the past decade, has again drawn public attention for the wrong reasons. While the motive behind Akinleye’s action remains unclear, the incident has reignited discussions about the mental health and welfare of Nigerian soldiers, particularly those involved in prolonged counter-insurgency operations in the North.

Over the years, several military personnel have taken their own lives under troubling circumstances. In November 2023, a Nigerian Army captain, Alphonsus Alexander Kalthy Bazza, reportedly committed suicide in Akwa Ibom State after expressing frustrations with his superior. In June of the same year, a Nigerian Air Force Master Warrant Officer identified as George was found dead in her apartment at the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base in Ikeja, Lagos.

Similar cases have been recorded in previous years, including the 2021 suicide of a soldier in Bauchi and another in 2020 at a Yobe duty post. These incidents have fueled concerns that inadequate psychological support, poor welfare, and prolonged deployment without rotation are taking a heavy toll on the mental well-being of service members.