The Nigerian Army has arrested a soldier who killed a 16-year-old protester in Zaria. Army spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
Nwachukwu said soldiers were enforcing the 24-hour curfew imposed on Kaduna and Zaria metropolis following reports of violence during the nationwide protest.
He said the soldiers were attacked by some hoodlums while enforcing the curfew in Samaru area of Zaria.
Nwachukwu added that hoodlums were throwing stones at security personnel and burning tyres despite the curfew.
The army spokesperson said the soldier fired a warning shot in a bid to disperse the protesters but accidentally killed the boy.
The statement reads: “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 on security personnel.
“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 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.”
The statement said the chief of army staff, Maj. Gen. Toareed Lagbaja, has sent a high-powered delegation to visit and condole with the family of the deceased.
It added that the delegation was led by the General Officer Commanding, 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Maj. Gen. Lander Saraso.
Nwachukwu said senior military officers attended the burial of the boy.
