Nigerian tank accidentally kills SA terrorist fighter in Borno

A South African expert who was participating in the fight against Boko Haram in Nigeria has died in the line of duty, reports say.

Leon Lotz, a former South African Special Forces operator, turned private security contractor, died on March 9 in Borno State, Daily Maverick reports.

Lotz, who is from KwaZulu-Natal, was killed when a Nigerian tank accidentally opened fire on his convoy.

Confirming his death, Lotz's niece, Vanes-Mari du Toit, posted on Facebook:

“What an absolute honour knowing you. You fought for what was right, always had the best advice. Today I say goodbye to a legend of an uncle, who passed away in battle fighting in Nigeria against the Boko Haram group. He was a warrior, leader, uncle, father, brother and husband of note. Rus sag Oom Leon Lotz (Rest softly, Uncle).”

Lotz, an employee of a private security company called Pilgrim Africa, was reportedly involved in the support and maintenance of vehicles used by the Nigerian Army in the fight against the Boko Haram.

South Africa has however said none of its citizens is permitted to participate in mercenary activity as it is illegal under the country’s laws.

“The police have a responsibility to ensure that, when they come back, those people are arrested and the [National Prosecutions Authority] has a responsibility to charge them. There are consequences for going out of the country and provide [sic] any form of military assistance as a mercenary, not as part of the deployment by government,” South African Defence Minister," Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said in response to reports of South Africans in Nigeria.