SaharaReporters had exclusively reported how Adamu with service number 21NA/80/0365 stabbed the late Tabra.
The Nigerian Army has confirmed the killing of a pregnant woman, Miss Hauwakulu Tabra by its personnel, Private Mohammed Adamu in the 82nd (Airborne and Amphibious) Division of the Nigerian Army in Enugu.
SaharaReporters had exclusively reported how Adamu with service number 21NA/80/0365 stabbed the late Tabra.
Multiple sources had narrated how the lifeless body of the pregnant woman wearing a hijab was discovered on Friday by the daughter of an army lieutenant around the division’s officers' quarters.
The suspect was said to be working with the division's legal service.
According to two senior military officers who spoke to SaharaReporters, Adamu is a ‘repentant’ Boko Haram member who after his repentance joined the Civilian Joint Task Force and later enlisted into the Nigerian Army in the year 2021.
SaharaReporters learnt that the Nigerian Army had between 2020 and 2021 absorbed 400 members of the civilian JTF into its fold to assist in prosecuting the war against Boko Haram terrorists.
“The suspect behind the murder of Miss Hauwa, the hijab woman is 21NA/80/0365 Pte Mohammed Adamu of 82Div legal services.
"Unfortunately, Pte Mohammed Adamu is a repented Boko Haram member who after his repentance joined the civilian JTF. It was from being a CJTF that he was enlisted into the Army in the year 2021.
“Investigation revealed that Miss Hauwa and Pte Mohammed Adamu were both lovers and from the same town in Biu local government area of Borno state. He, Pte Mohammed Adamu paid her transport to come over to Enugu and killed her. He is currently in custody of the military police and his statement has been taken in which he confessed to the act.
“The late Hauwa was pregnant for Pte Adamu Mohammed before he slit her throat, stabbed her belly multiple times and tied her up in the bush near the 82Div officers’ quarters in the early hours of Friday, 12th of April.
“In his statement, Pte Mohammed Adamu claimed that the pregnancy the late Hauwa was carrying wasn't his own, and he is not ready to father any child yet and he lured her out.”
When confronted that the Nigerian army had denied recruiting ex-Boko Haram into the military, the source had said, “Not everything the army headquarters will agree to, we in the system understand better.
“These are the people we work with every day. They repent first and join the CJTF, it’s from the CTJF that they do join the military. That’s how it’s being done, not that they do join immediately after repentance.
“We have lots of them, one of the guys in my unit then, late Pte Abdalla from Yobe State was a repented Boko Haram."
Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations in a statement on Sunday confirmed the killing of the pregnant woman by Adamu.
While commiserating with the family of the deceased, he claimed the army had never enlisted former or repentant insurgents into the organisation.
He, however, said considerations were given to the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) who in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the North East distinguished themselves morally and patriotically.
The statement read, “The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to a publication by Sahara Reporters on 13 April 2024 tilted, "Repented Boko Haram Member Enlisted into Nigerian Army slits Woman's throat in Enugu Barracks, Hides Corpse."
“Much as it is highly regrettable that a young lady lost her life in the hands of a man with whom she was in an amorous relationship, the incident should not be latched on to insinuate a laughable claim that the dastardly act was committed by a repentant Boko Haram recruited into the Nigerian Army.
“It is pertinent therefore to clear the air on the allegation as insinuated by Sahara Reporters. The NA has at no point in time, either in the past or present enlisted repentant Boko Haram members to its strength. “However, considerations were given to Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) who in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the North East distinguished themselves morally and patriotically. Such members of the CJTF must have also shown commitment, dedication and loyalty to the service and the nation.
“The sad incident of the gruesome murder of Miss Hauwakulu Tabra by Private Adamu Muhammad occurred on the night of Thursday 11 April 2024 and her corpse was discovered within the barracks on Friday 12 April 2024. Preliminary investigations revealed that the late Hauwakulu Tabra was actually murdered by the said soldier, who is presently in detention for further investigation to unravel the motive behind his actions.
“The Nigerian Army extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased Miss Hauwakulu Tabra and also emphatically assert that at no time has the NA enlisted repentant Boko Haram members into its fold as mischievously insinuated.
“The general public should be rest assured that justice will be served, as the NA will not condone any unprofessional conduct or indiscipline within its ranks.”