Eyewitnesses claimed the suspected soldiers stormed the market, opening fire on the cattle market, resulting in the deaths of at least three people as traders scrambled for safety.

According to a local, Mallam Shehu Sabon Birni, who spoke to our correspondent, “the dead animals are scattered in the market, causing an offensive odour, making life unpleasant.”

“It was a horrific scene when the soldiers arrived at the market, some of them on motorcycles, and started shooting the animals. Two people were killed in the chaos,” Birni said.

“Now, over 100 dead cows are scattered throughout the market, and the nearby houses are overwhelmed by the stench. We are still unsure why the soldiers took such drastic action,” he added.

Islamic scholar, Dr. Ahmad Gumi, in a video on his Facebook handle, commented on the incident, stating: “Banditry has a cause. And this is part of it. Two wrongs don’t make a right, especially when committed by those entrusted with our protection.”

However, reacting in a statement on Thursday, the Army’s Director of Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, had ordered a probe of the incident to establish the immediate and remote causes and uncover those responsible.

Nwachukwu said, “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a disturbing news report with gory pictures/video footages published in some mainstream and social media platforms alleging that troops of 1 Division annihilated three persons and some cattle during a recent operation at Sabon Birni in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

“While the Nigerian Army wishes to sympathise with the Sabon Birni community and families of the affected persons, we also wish to state that the allegation will be thoroughly investigated and any personnel found culpable will be appropriately sanctioned.