Shooting Of NYSC Member: Senator Kingibe Calls For Transparent, Thorough Investigation

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Amidst growing controversies and disagreements  over the death of an Abuja Youth Corps member, Abdulsamad Jamiu, the Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, at the National Assembly, Senator Ireti Kingibe has called for an unfettered investigation into the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident.

The Source reports that Jamiu, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, was on Saturday April 25, shot dead by troops of the Nigerian Army during an alleged exchange of gunfire with men of the underworld.

The Army, in a statement, said the late Corps member was accidentally shot in the process of troops repelling an attack from suspected armed robbers at the Dei-Dei Estate in the FCT.

However ,the victim’s family, in a statement on Monday, rejected the Army’s account of the death of their son , insisting that it was a deliberate act as Jamiu, contrary to the Army’s  claim was shot at a close range in his room. The family Insists there was no robbery attack in the Estate and that the soldiers inexplicably scaled the fence and shot at the door of the room where Jamiu was sleeping. The bullet, the family said, went through his head, and killed him instantly.

Senator Kingibe, in a statement on Monday, while describing the incident as unfortunate, sad and painful, regretted that the consequences remain devastating and irreversible.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the parents, family and loved ones of the deceased. The grief of losing a child under such circumstances is unimaginable, and as a nation ,we share in their sorrow.

“No family should have to endure such pain, especially when their child was serving the country with dedication under the National Youth Service Corps Scheme”, Kingibe stated .

According to her ,the tragic incident calls for measures to strengthen rules of engagement, improve coordination between security agencies and civilians with a view to ensuring that the people are protected at all times.

While taking note of the explanation offered by the military authorities, Senator Kingibe called for a transparent and unfettered inquest into the events leading to the sad situation.