The Nigerian Army has arrested a soldier for killing one hunger protester in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Army Spokesman, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu said the soldier killed the protester while trying to disperse off a gathering in the area.
Maj.-Gen. Nwachukwu said the soldier (name not disclosed) who fired the warning shot that resulted to the death of the protester has been arrested and undergoing interrogation.
The Army spokesman 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 said troops immediately mobilised and arrived at the scene to disperse the mob and enforce the curfew imposed by the Kaduna 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,” he said.
Nwachukwu stressed that “the soldier involved has since been arrested and undergoing interrogation as at the time of this report.”
The Director added that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has sent a delegation led by the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Maj.-Gen. Lander Saraso to visit and condole with the family of the deceased.
He added that the deceased has been buried according to Islamic rites with senior military officers of the Nigerian Army in attendance.
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