Ayomide Awe
A shocking incident unfolded at Headquarters 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Monday, January 16, 2024, a Nigerian Army soldier, Boyi ThankGod, has reportedly taken his own life.
The 353 Artillery regiment member allegedly cocked his rifle and shot himself in the head, leaving his comrades in disbelief and sorrow.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that ThankGod, who had been assigned to the brigade, had been grappling with issues of unpaid allowances and had exhibited signs of depression leading up to the tragic incident.
Sources revealed that the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, meant to honour fallen heroes, took a distressing turn for the 35 Artillery brigade as they lost one of their own.
According to fellow soldiers, ThankGod shot himself at the standby duty shade at the gate, raising concerns about the mental health and morale within the military system.
Witnesses noted that the deceased had already shown a lack of interest in his military duties, citing corruption within the military and a decline in morale as contributing factors to his distress.
The late soldier, who left behind handwritten notes, expressed frustration with his commander, Lieutenant Colonel NY Suleiman Baburka.
In the notes, ThankGod detailed instances of alleged bias, lack of trust, and derogatory remarks from his superior officer.
He accused Baburka of mishandling funds allocated for the general elections and insisted on diverting his share to ThankGod’s wife, adding to the soldier’s mounting grievances.
The notes shed light on a strained relationship between ThankGod and his commander, recounting incidents where he was denied leave to bury his child and faced extra duty for seeking necessary changes in his uniform.
The deceased lamented the lack of mentorship and respectful treatment from his superior, emphasizing the need for dignity as a junior colleague.
As the military community mourns the loss of Boyi ThankGod, questions arise about the broader issues affecting the mental well-being of soldiers and the need for comprehensive support systems within the armed forces.
The brigade command’s spokesman, Mohammed Goni, could not be reached for comment.
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