COAS Orders Arrest Of Soldier Who Shot Dead 16 Year-Old Boy In Zaria

By Ayodele Oni

After admitting error in the killing of a toddler that participated in the ongoing protest, the Chief of Army Staff, (COAS), Lt General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja has ordered for the arrest of the trigger happy soldier that accidentally killed a 16-year old boy, Ismail Mohammed.

The incident  happened  in Zaria, Kaduna state.

The Director Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu in a press statement on Wednesday, revealed that the Chief of Army Staff, saddened by the unfortunate incident, has sent a high-powered delegation led by the General Officer Commanding 1 Division Maj Gen Lander Saraso to visit and condole with the family of the deceased.

Army spokesperson explained that troops of the Nigerian Army on 6 August 2024 received a distress call that some hoodlums gathered in Samaru in large numbers, burning tires on the road and pelting stones on security personnel.

He noted that 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 deceased was buried according to islamic rites with senior military officers of the Nigerian Army in attendance.

The deceased is the only victim so far, that has been confirmed shot dead by security agents during the ongoing protest.