The Nigerian Army on Wednesday confirmed the arrest and ongoing interrogation of a soldier who on Tuesday shot and killed a 16-year-old protester, Ismail Mohammed, in Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State.
Army Spokesperson, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, said in a statement that Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, “saddened by the unfortunate incident,” 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.”
Nwachukwu also said that the deceased protester “was buried according to islamic rites with senior military officers of the Nigerian Army in attendance.”
The full statement read: “On 6 August 2024, troops of the Nigerian Army received a distress call that some hoodlums gathered in Samaru in large numbers, burning tires on the road and pelting stones on 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 undergoing interrogation as at 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.”
