Nigerian Soldiers in Katsina State on Thursday opened fire on a commercial vehicle with reg. number AY504KTN, killing one of the passengers, a student of the Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic in the city.
Capt. Ikedichi Iweha, the JTF spokesman in the state, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Katsina.
Iweha said that the soldiers opened fire on the vehicle when the driver attempted to beat a military checkpoint at Batagarawa area of the state.
Iweha confirmed said that one of the passengers in the vehicle was hit and that he died instantly.
The JTF spokesman said that the affected driver had been arrested while the vehicle had been impounded by the army.
Iweha said that investigation into the incident has also commenced.
Meanwhile, a witness, who pleaded anonymity, told newsmen that the driver allegedly attempted to overtake a truck at the checkpoint.
The witness said that the deceased was later identified as Umar Ali, 22, a National Diploma II student of Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, Katsina.
According to the witness, the deceased was travelling along with his friends to Minna, Niger, for a wedding ceremony when the incident occurred.