The Nigerian Army says a
soldier who killed a 16-year-old protester in Zaria has been arrested.
In a statement on Wednesday,
Onyema Nwachukwu, army spokesperson, said soldiers were enforcing the 24-hour
curfew imposed on Kaduna and Zaria metropolis following reports of violence
during the nationwide protest.
He said the soldiers were
attacked by some hoodlums while enforcing the curfew in Samaru area of Zaria.
Nwachukwu added that hoodlums
were throwing stones at security personnel and burning tyres despite the
curfew.
The army spokesperson said the
soldier fired a warning shot in a bid to disperse the protesters but
accidentally killed the boy.
“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 statement reads.
“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.”
The statement added that Toareed
Lagbaja, chief of army staff, sent a high-powered delegation to visit and
condole with the family of the deceased.
The delegation was led by
Lander Saraso, general officer commanding 1 division.
The spokesperson said the
deceased has been buried according to Islamic rites, adding that senior
military officers attended the burial.
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