The Nigerian Army has expressed dismay over the unfortunate death of a young protester in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Army spokesman, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement said, the unfortunate incident happened as troops tried to disperse a protesting mob.
According to him, on Tuesday, 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. Unfortunately, the shot 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”. Nwachukwu said.
He disclosed that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, saddened by the 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, who was buried according to islamic rites with senior military officers of the Nigerian Army in attendance.
