A soldier has shot and killed a 16-year-old boy in the Samaru area of Zaria, Kaduna State, during the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest. The boy, Isma’il Muhammad, was said to have been shot by the soldier while the imposed 24-hour curfew by the Kaduna State Government was being observed.

The curfew was imposed on Monday after violence broke out during the protest in Zaria. 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, set 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 the 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 1 Division, Major General Lander Saraso, to visit and commiserate with the deceased’s family. The sad incident follows the curfew imposed on the Kaduna and Zaria metropolises by the state government.

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The #EndBadGovernance protest took a new twist 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 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. He said the state governor, Senator Uba Sani, declared the curfew following a meeting he had with the State Security Council.“There is sufficient evidence to indicate that the ongoing protest has been hijacked by criminal elements who have resorted to the looting of shops and destruction of private and public property,” he said.

“Given this unfortunate development, the Kaduna State Security Council has unanimously resolved to impose a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna and Zaria metropolises and environs with immediate effect.“Citizens are advised to remain indoors while security forces continue to work to maintain safety and security. Monitoring will be sustained for review of the curfew as required.”