The Nigerian Army has detained a soldier who killed a 16-year-old boy, Ismail Mohammed while attempting to stop hoodlums who were causing mayhem in Zamfara on Tuesday, August 6, 2024.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, said the troops received a distress call that some hoodlums gathered in Samaru area of Gusau in large numbers.
According to Nwachukwu, the hoodlums were burning tyres on the road and pelting stones at security personnel.
The Army spokesperson said the troops immediately mobilised 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 undergoing interrogation as at the time of this report,” he said.
Nwachukwu said the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General 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, Major General Lander Saraso to visit and condole with the family of Ismail.
He added that the deceased has been buried according to Islamic rites with senior military officers of the Nigerian army in attendance.
