The Nigerian Army has taken swift action in response to the killing of a 16-year-old boy, Ismail Mohammed, during the EndBadGovernance protest in Kaduna State.
The officer responsible for the incident has been arrested and is currently undergoing interrogation.
According to a statement issued by the Army’s spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, the troops were deployed to disperse a mob of hoodlums in Samaru, Zaria, who were burning tires and pelting stones at security personnel. Despite attempts to scare them away with a warning shot, the situation escalated, resulting in the unfortunate death of the young boy.
The Army’s swift response in arresting the officer involved demonstrates a commitment to accountability and justice. The incident highlights the challenges of maintaining peace and order during protests, and the need for restraint and proportionate response from security forces.
The statement from the Army 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 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.”
