Soldier who shot 16-year-old protester dead in Zaria arrested — Army

The Nigerian Army has said the soldier responsible for the death of a 16-year-old protester in Zaria, Kaduna State, has been arrested.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Army spokesperson Major General Onyema Nwachukwu.

“On 6 August 2024, troops of the Nigerian Army received a distress call that some hoodlums gathered in Samaru in large numbers, burning tires on the road and pelting stones at security personnel,” the statement read.

“The troops immediately mobilised and arrived at the scene to disperse the mob and enforce the curfew imposed by the State Government.

“On arrival at the scene, the hoodlums 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, Ismail Mohammed.

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“The soldier involved has since been arrested and is undergoing interrogation as of the time of this report.”

Nwachukwu said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, has sent a high-powered delegation led by the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Maj Gen Lander Saraso, to visit and condole with the family of the deceased.

The Army spokesperson added that the deceased has been buried according to Islamic rites, with senior military officers of the Nigerian Army in attendance.