As the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest continues in some parts of the country, a 16-year-old protester identified as Ismail Mohammed has been shot dead by a soldier in the Nigerian army in the Samaru community of Zaria, Kaduna State.
In a statement titled “Unfortunate death of a protester by a soldier in Zaria,” the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyeama Nwachukwu, confirmed the development.
The 16-year-old was killed when the Nigerian Army troops tried to disperse some suspected thugs who were constituting a nuisance in Samaru by burning tyres and attacking security personnel.
The hoodlums attempted to attack the troops, which resulted to a soldier firing a warning shot to scare them away but unfortunately, a bullet hit Mohammed leading to his death.
According to Nwachukwu, the soldier involved has been arrested and going through interrogation.
The statement read, “On August 6, 2024, troops of the Nigerian Army received a distress call that some hoodlums gathered in Samaru in large numbers, burning tyres on the road and pelting stones at security personnel. The troops immediately mobilised and arrived at the scene to disperse the mob and enforce the curfew imposed by the state government.
“On arrival at the scene, the hoodlums brazenly attempted attacking the troops, prompting a soldier to fire a warning shot to scare the hoodlums away, which unfortunately led to the death of a 16-year-old boy, Ismail Mohammed. The soldier involved has since been arrested and is undergoing interrogation as of the time of this report.
“Saddened by the unfortunate incident, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, has sent a high-powered delegation led by the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Maj Gen Lander Saraso, to visit and condole with the family of the deceased.
“The deceased was buried according to Islamic rites, with senior military officers of the Nigerian Army in attendance.”
