Soldier Arrested After Fatally Shooting Teenage Protester in Zaria

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the arrest of a soldier responsible for the shooting death of a teenage protester in Zaria, Kaduna State.

The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday morning around 9 a.m. in the Samaru area of Zaria, where soldiers were patrolling. The victim, Isma’il Muhammad, a recent secondary school graduate, was fatally shot at his residence on Sarkin Pawa Street.

According to local sources, Muhammad was playing with his friends and a brother in front of their house when they noticed soldiers approaching. Fearing for their safety, they retreated into the house and locked the gate. Despite this, one of the soldiers allegedly fired his weapon, striking Muhammad.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Major General M.L.D. Saraso, visited the grieving family at their home to express his condolences. He assured the community that a thorough investigation would be conducted and urged anyone with relevant information to come forward.

“This incident is deeply unfortunate,” General Saraso stated, urging the community to remain peaceful and law-abiding during this difficult time.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Army spokesperson Onyema Nwachukwu explained that soldiers had been enforcing a 24-hour curfew imposed on Kaduna and Zaria due to violence during the #EndBadGovernance protests in the region. He noted that the soldiers were met with hostility, including stone-throwing and tire-burning, as they attempted to disperse a crowd in Samaru.

Nwachukwu clarified that the soldier involved had fired a warning shot in an attempt to disperse the crowd, but the shot tragically struck and killed Muhammad.

“On August 6, 2024, troops of the Nigerian Army responded to a distress call reporting a large gathering of hoodlums in Samaru who were burning tires and pelting security personnel with stones,” the statement read. “Upon arrival, the troops were confronted by the crowd, and a soldier fired a warning shot, which unfortunately resulted in the death of 16-year-old Isma’il Muhammad.”

The Army confirmed that the soldier has been arrested and is undergoing interrogation. Additionally, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has dispatched a high-level delegation to visit and offer condolences to Muhammad’s family.