Curfew: Army confirms fatal shooting of 16-year-old protester in Zaria

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the fatal shooting of a protester in Zaria, Kaduna State, on August 6.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 7, Army spokesperson Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu confirmed the incident.

He stated that the unfortunate incident occurred when army troops mobilized in Samaru, a Zaria sub-urb, to stop some hoodlums.

The statement reads: “On 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 mobilized 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, which unfortunately led to the death of a 16-year-old boy, Ismail Mohammed.

“The soldier involved has since been arrested and is undergoing interrogation as of the time of this report.”

According to Nwachukwu, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, dispatched a high-level delegation, led by Maj.-Gen. Lander Saraso, to pay condolences to the family of the deceased.

He said the deceased was buried in accordance with Islamic customs, with senior military personnel from the Nigerian Army present.