The Nigerian Army has admitted responsibility for the fatal shooting of Ismail Mohammed, a 16-year-old boy, during the #EndBadGovernance protests in Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State. In a statement released on Wednesday, the Army confirmed that Mohammed's family has been compensated with N300,000.
This admission follows reports that soldiers fired live rounds to disperse protesters, resulting in the deaths of two civilians. Eyewitnesses reported that the soldiers stormed the student-dominated community early Tuesday morning, opening fire on civilians to suppress the ongoing protests.
The incident, which occurred near Ahmadu Bello University, has sparked widespread panic and condemnation. Eyewitnesses and community sources confirmed that the soldiers' aim was to enforce the curfew imposed by the state government, but their actions led to tragic fatalities. The army stated that the troops were responding to a distress call about hoodlums burning tyres and pelting security personnel with stones.
A graphic video shared on social media shows the lifeless body of one of the victims, highlighting the deadly crackdown. The Army's spokesperson, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, explained that the troops fired warning shots to deter the hoodlums, which unfortunately led to Mohammed's death.
The tragic incident has raised concerns about the safety of students in the area and the need for authorities to prevent further loss of life.
