Army commiserates as soldier kills 18-year-old Zaria boy during hunger protest
It has been confirmed that a teenager was killed by a soldier in the Samaru area of Zaria in Kaduna State when the #EndBadGovernance protest turned violent.
The deceased 18-year-old boy was identified as Isma’il Muhammad.
He was reportedly shot by the soldier inside his father’s house, while the security operatives were enforcing the 24-hour curfew imposed by the Kaduna State Government.
Neptune Prime reports that the Kaduna State Government enforced a 24-hour curfew following a violent protest that broke out in Zaria and Kaduna metropolis on Monday.
Also on Monday, the Overseeing Commissioner, of the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the curfew was a measure taken in the interest of peace.
Confirming the incident in a statement, the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the soldier involved in the killing of the teenager has since been arrested and is undergoing interrogation.
According to him, the incident happened when hoodlums blocked the road, setting fires, and brazenly attempted to attack 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, Isma’il Muhammad.
Saddened by the incident, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja has sent a delegation led by the General Officer Commanding one Division, Major General Lander Saraso to visit and commiserate with the deceased’s family and orders probe.
The #Endbadgovernance protest, which was initially declared a peaceful demonstration, took a bad turn in the state on Monday, after hoodlums disguised as protesters seized the opportunity to loot both government and private properties.
Some of the protesters were also seen clutching and lifting the Russian flag as they aired their frustration against the current hardship and hunger in the country.
On Tuesday, Neptune Prime gathered that the Sheikh Abubakar Gumi central market in Kaduna State capital was deserted due to the curfew.
Shops, filling stations and markets were also closed.
Proofreading and editing by Gift Luckson and Hafsat Aleeyu Muye, Editor and Journalist at Neptune Prime.
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