The father of late Ismail Mohammed, who was killed in Samaru Zaria on Tuesday, has claimed that his son was assassinated by soldiers.
In an interview, Malam Mohammed claimed that the troops who were scaring people away pursued his son to their house and shot him.
According to him, “My 19-year-old son was outside the house when the soldiers started shooting.” He fled inside and shut the door, but the troops followed him and shot through it.
“I was in Hayin Dogo when Abubakar called to tell me what had transpired. But it was only after an hour that I was able to return home after Ismail had been killed.”
The Nigerian Army has declared that it will look into the killing of 19-year-old Isma’il Muhammad, who was shot and killed by a soldier who was allegedly on patrol in Samaru, Zaria.
This was revealed on Tuesday when Maj.-Gen. MLD Saraso, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, paid a visit to the deceased’s family in Zaria.
In a later speech to local youth, the GOC said he came in Zaria to express his condolences to the family and the community for the disaster.
He stated that a full inquiry would be done into the situation and invited any community member with relevant information to share it for appropriate action.
Saraso described the occurrence as regrettable, asking the community to live in peace and always follow the law and order.
The deceased’s mother, Zainab Sani, said the shooting happened at 9.00 a.m. at their home on Sarkin Pawa Street in Samaru, Zaria, by a trigger-happy soldier on patrol with his colleagues.
She stated the late Isma’il was playing with his pals and brother in front of their house when they saw soldiers heading in their direction.
With one of the soldiers pointing his gun at them, they ran into the house and shut the gate, she claimed.
She said that the soldier, however, shot at the gate, killing Isma’il, who was standing by the gate to prevent the soldiers from entering. She went on to say that her son had recently completed his final secondary school exams in Zaria and was applying for admission to further his study when the tragedy occurred.
Final Thoughts
The claim that soldiers pursued Isma’il into his home and shot him through a closed door is a grave accusation. If true, it suggests a severe breach of conduct and use of excessive force by the military personnel involved.
The Nigerian Army’s decision to conduct a full investigation into the incident is crucial. A transparent and thorough investigation is necessary to determine the facts and hold accountable those responsible for any wrongdoing.
The involvement of independent bodies in the investigation could enhance its credibility and reassure the community.
