Tragedy in Maiduguri as 12‑year‑old dies in accidental shooting by 8-year-old

Cityscope, Crime Diary

CRIME WATCH (NPA) — March 19, 2026 — Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri, Borno State, was thrown into mourning on March 18 after a 12‑year‑old boy, Musa Audu Idrisa, lost his life in an accidental shooting involving an eight‑year‑old neighbour.

According to security and counterinsurgency expert Zagazola Makama, the tragedy occurred while the children were playing at home. The minor, Abubakar Inusa, reportedly gained access to a loaded dane gun left within reach by his father, Inusa Mohammed, a 45‑year‑old member of the Nigerian Hunters Group.

The victim was rushed to the State Specialists Hospital in Maiduguri, where he was pronounced dead.

Police authorities have since recovered the weapon and confirmed that investigations are underway to determine the culpability of the gun‑owner father. Officials stressed that the inquiry will also focus on preventing a recurrence of such accidental killings, highlighting the dangers of unsafe firearm storage in residential communities.