The Nigerian Army has detained a soldier who killed a 16-year-old boy, Ismail Mohammed, while attempting to stop hoodlums from causing havoc in Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State, on Tuesday. Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, issued the statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
Nwachukwu said the soldiers received a distress call that some hoodlums gathered in Samaru area of Zaria in large numbers, burning tyres on the road and throwing stones on security personnel.
He stated that troops were instantly mobilised and came on the spot to disperse the mob and enforce the State Government's curfew.
“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,” he said.
Nwachukwu added that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja was pained by the unfortunate incident.
He stated that the COAS has dispatched a high-level delegation led by the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Maj.-Gen. Lander Saraso, to pay their respects to the deceased's family members.
According to him, the deceased was buried according to Islamic rites, with senior officers from the Nigerian army in attendance.
