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A secondary school student in Sai, Benue State, has been reportedly shot by personnel of the Nigerian Army, sparking outrage and heightened tension in the community.
The victim, identified as Tsavnav Gabriel, a student of NKST Secondary School in Sai, was allegedly hit during the evening of Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as soldiers passed through the area. Eyewitnesses and residents stated that the troops were returning from Tse Jato, where they had provided burial escort for the body of a man reportedly killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
According to accounts from the community, the shooting occurred amid the movement of the military convoy through Sai. The student was subsequently rushed to a local clinic in the town, where he is currently receiving treatment. His exact medical condition has not been officially confirmed, though well-wishers and sympathisers have called for his speedy recovery.
Family sources revealed that the victim’s household had already been displaced due to the prolonged security challenges and recurring violence in the surrounding areas, adding another layer of hardship to their situation.
Residents of Sai have called on the Nigerian Army to launch a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the shooting, establish accountability where necessary, and take steps to prevent similar incidents. The community remains on edge as many express concern over the safety of civilians during military operations in civilian-populated zones.
No official statement has been issued by the military authorities or the Benue State Police Command regarding the incident at the time of this report. The development has once again drawn attention to the complex security dynamics in parts of Benue, where civilian-military interactions amid ongoing farmer-herder conflicts frequently result in heightened local tensions.
