Nigerian Army Confirms Arrest of Soldier Involved in Fatal Shooting of 16-Year-Old During EndBadGovernance Protest
The Nigerian Army has confirmed the arrest of one of its personnel involved in the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old boy, Ismail Mohammed, during the ongoing EndBadGovernance protest in Kaduna State.
It was gathered the tragic incident occurred on Tuesday when troops of the Nigerian Army stormed the Samaru community in Zaria to disperse protesters. The security operatives were enforcing a curfew imposed on the ancient city by the Kaduna State Government.
In a statement issued on Tuesday night, the Nigerian Army spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed the incident and the subsequent arrest of the officer responsible.
The statement reads, “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 at security personnel. The troops immediately mobilized 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 to attack the troops, prompting a soldier to fire a warning shot to scare them away. Unfortunately, this 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.”
The Nigerian Army expressed regret over the unfortunate incident and assured the public that a thorough investigation would be conducted.
“The Nigerian Army deeply regrets the loss of life and assures the public that appropriate actions will be taken to ensure justice is served,” the statement added.
The EndBadGovernance protests, which have been ongoing across various parts of the country, have seen widespread calls for governmental reforms and increased accountability.
The enforcement of curfews and the heavy-handed response by security forces have been criticized by many as exacerbating the tensions.
The Kaduna State Government has yet to release an official statement regarding the incident, but it is expected to address the public soon.
In the meantime, the situation in Samaru remains tense, with residents mourning the loss of the young boy and calling for justice.
As the investigation proceeds, the Nigerian Army has pledged to uphold transparency and accountability, ensuring that such incidents are prevented in the future.
