The Nigerian Army has confirmed the arrest of one of its personnel involved in the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old boy, Ismail Mohammed, during the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests in Kaduna State. The incident occurred on Tuesday when the troops were dispatched to disperse protesters in the Samaru community of Zaria.
Ismail Mohammed was reportedly killed as security operatives attempted to enforce a curfew imposed by the Kaduna State Government. The curfew was part of efforts to control the civil unrest sparked by the #EndBadGovernance movement, which has seen widespread protests across various states in Nigeria.
According to a statement released by the Nigerian Army spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, on Tuesday night, the tragic incident unfolded after troops received a distress call regarding a group of hoodlums causing disturbances in Samaru. The statement provided a detailed account of the events leading to the unfortunate death of the young protester.
“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 at security personnel,” the statement read. “The troops immediately mobilized and arrived at the scene to disperse the mob and enforce the curfew imposed by the State Government.”
The Nigerian Army’s account stated that upon arrival, the troops were met with aggressive behaviour from the crowd. The tension escalated, prompting a soldier to fire a warning shot intended to disperse the protesters. However, the shot tragically resulted in the death of Ismail Mohammed.
“The soldier involved has since been arrested and is undergoing interrogation as at the time of this report,” Nwachukwu added.
Kaduna State has been one of the hotspots for these protests, with residents expressing frustration over perceived government failures and demanding substantial reforms. The imposition of the curfew was a measure by the state government to curb the protests and restore order, but the heavy-handed approach has led to increased confrontations. Human rights organizations and activists have condemned the incident, calling for a thorough investigation and accountability.