Nigerian Army Confirms Troops Shot Dead 16-Year-Old Boy During Protests In Kaduna

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the death of a protester and 16-year-old boy, Ismail Mohammed, in Zaira, Kaduna State.

 

The army spokesperson, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, in a release stated that the teenager's death resulted from troops firing a warning shot to deter hoodlums and enforce the curfew imposed by the state government.

 

The curfew was in the wake of the #EndBadGovernance peaceful protests in the state, which was however hijacked by some hoodlums. 

Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, said that Nigerian Army troops received a distress call reporting that a large group of hoodlums had gathered in Samaru, burning tyres on the road and pelting stones at security personnel.

 

The army authorities stated that the troops were immediately mobilised and arrived at the scene to disperse the mob and enforce the curfew imposed by the state government.

 

According to him, "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 years old boy, Ismail Mohammed.

 

He added that the soldier involved had since been arrested and undergoing interrogation as of 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," he said.  

 

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