A 16-year-old protester, Ismail Mohammed, was shot dead by a soldier from the Nigerian Army in the Samaru community in Zaria, Kaduna State, on Tuesday.
Major General Onyeama Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, confirmed the incident in a statement titled “Unfortunate death of a protester by a soldier in Zaria.” He explained that the shooting occurred when the army was called in to disperse a group of individuals who were burning tires and attacking security personnel.
The statement detailed that the crowd tried to confront the soldiers, prompting one of them to fire a warning shot. Unfortunately, this shot resulted in Mohammed’s death. The soldier involved has been detained and is under investigation.
Nwachukwu further explained that the army was responding to a distress call about a mob blocking roads and throwing stones at security forces. The troops arrived to enforce a curfew and disperse the crowd. The shooting occurred during this effort.
In response to the tragic event, Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja sent a high-level delegation, led by Maj Gen Lander Saraso, to offer condolences to Mohammed’s family. The deceased was buried according to Islamic customs, with senior military officers in attendance.
