US based Ghanaian soldier killed by another soldier

A Ghanaian-American family based in the US is mourning the passing of their son who died under strange circumstances at a military base in Alabama.

According to the military, the 21-year-old soldier, Pvt. Abdul-Nafsu Latifu was killed in an “altercation with another soldier” at the Alabama Army post, Fort Rucker where he was training to become an Army air traffic control operator.

A source close to the family revealed that news about his demise was published on local websites in Alabama as early as 11:30 am CST, even though his next-of-kin was officially called four(4) hours later to report that he had been hospitalized and in critical condition.

Pvt. Abdul N. Latifu until joining the US Army lived in New York.

“He was full of life and one of the smartest lads I’ve come across,” a neighbour said.

“I cannot seem to comprehend this news because Latifu will not fight anyone for any reason, at best he walks away. So I’m dumbfounded to say the least,” another maintained.

“Something is not right about this, someone needs to start saying what really happened, not what they’re feeding us, what are they covering up? a teary friend of the deceased lamented in disbelief.

A follow-up statement issued by the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker said no formal charges have been filed, but Army Criminal Investigation Division agents are probing the incident.

Maj. Gen. Michael McCurry, the commander of Fort Rucker stated, “On behalf of the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker, I extend our deepest condolences to Pvt. Latifu’s family, friends, and community. Together we mourn the loss of a promising young soldier, McCurry said in a statement.

Pvt. Latifu was a trainee in the Armys Advanced Individual Training program at Fort Rucker where he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 13th Aviation Regiment, 1st Aviation Brigade.