The Nigerian Army has confirmed the death of a protester, a 16-year-old boy named Ismail Mohammed, in Zaira, Kaduna State.
Army spokesperson Major General Onyema Nwachukwu stated that Mohammed’s death occurred when troops fired a warning shot to deter hoodlums and enforce a curfew imposed by the state government. This curfew followed the #EndBadGovernance peaceful protests, which were subsequently hijacked by some hoodlums.
Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, reported that Nigerian Army troops received a distress call about a large group of hoodlums in Samaru who were burning tires and throwing stones at security personnel. Troops were immediately mobilized to disperse the mob and enforce the curfew. Upon arrival, the hoodlums attempted to attack the troops, prompting a soldier to fire a warning shot, which unfortunately resulted in the death of Ismail Mohammed.
The soldier involved has been arrested and is undergoing interrogation. Saddened by the incident, Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja sent a high-powered delegation, led by General Officer Commanding 1 Division Maj. Gen. Lander Saraso, to visit and condole with the family of the deceased. Ismail Mohammed was buried according to Islamic rites, with senior military officers of the Nigerian Army in attendance.