The Nigerian Army has detained a soldier involved in the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Ismail Mohammed while trying to stop hoodlums causing chaos in Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State, on Tuesday.
Recall that Ismail’s father had alleged the Nigerian Army of killing his son.
This information was disclosed in a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Nwachukwu explained that the troops responded to a distress call about hoodlums gathering in large numbers in the Samaru area, burning tires on the road, and throwing stones at security personnel.
He added that the troops promptly mobilized and arrived at the scene to disperse the mob and enforce the state government’s curfew.
“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-year-old boy, Ismail Mohammed.
“The soldier involved has since been arrested and undergoing interrogation as of the time of this report,” he said.
Nwachukwu said the Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja was saddened by the unfortunate incident.
He said the COAS had 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.
According to him, the deceased was buried according to Islamic rites, with senior military officers of the Nigerian army in attendance.