Forty-two-year-old principal of Joboli Fulani Secondary School, Mr. Arabi Ahmed, has been killed after a military vehicle on patrol hit him in Yola, the Adamawa State Capital.

A close friend of Arabi, Bobboi Iliyasu in a phone chat with reporters said the incident happened at NEPA neighborhood in Jimeta-Yola, Yola North Local Government Area.

Iliyasu said he spoke with the deceased Principal at about 9:00 p.m. on a fateful day noting that the deceased teacher even promised to call him back later only to be told of his death.

“I spoke with the dead Principal at about 9:00 pm on that fateful day and he even promised to call me later but was told that a high-speed military vehicle on patrol killed the Principal when it overran as it hit him down.

“At about 10:00 p.m. same night, I received a call from my friend’s phone number but when I picked the call, a strange voice enquired whether I know the owner, after I answered the question in the affirmative, he told me to come to the specialist hospital because my friend was involved in an accident.

“When we arrived at the hospital, we were told that he had died, having suffered a fatal head injury as a result of the accident.

“We the friends and relatives of the dead vice principal are disturbed that instead of the soldiers to show concern for the dead man and his family, they are busy pleading with us to talk to the police so that their vehicle could be released.

“The man died and left behind his father, mother, two wives, and eight children but the soldiers did not show concern about these people but only their patrol vehicle,” he said.

When contacted, the image-maker of the Adamawa State Police Command, DSP Sulaiman Nguroje confirmed the incident adding that the driver of the patrol van, as well as the vehicle, are in police custody.

“On learning about the accident, the commissioner of police directed the MTD to take control of the investigation.

“We are doing a thorough investigation on the incident after which we shall present the outcome to the military authorities for further action,” Nguroje said. (Independent)