The Nigerian Army has announced the arrest of the soldier who shot and killed a teenage protester in Zaria, Kaduna State. The incident occurred on Tuesday around 9 am when the soldier, part of a patrol team in Samaru, Zaria, opened fire on Isma’il Muhammad, a recent secondary school graduate, at his home on Sarkin Pawa Street.
Samaru is home to many staff and students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. According to Muhammad's mother, Zainab Sani, he was playing with friends and his brother in front of their house when soldiers approached. Seeing one soldier aiming his gun at them, the children ran inside and closed the gate.
Major General M.L.D. Saraso, GOC 1 Division, visited Muhammad's family to express condolences and assured the community of a thorough investigation. He asked anyone with substantial evidence to come forward and described the incident as "unfortunate," urging the community to remain peaceful and law-abiding.
In a statement on Wednesday, Army Spokesperson Onyema Nwachukwu explained that the soldiers were enforcing a 24-hour curfew imposed on Kaduna and Zaria following violence during the #EndBadGovernance protests. The soldiers encountered hoodlums throwing stones and burning tires despite the curfew. In an attempt to disperse the crowd, a soldier fired a warning shot that accidentally killed Muhammad.
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Nwachukwu confirmed that the soldier involved has been arrested and is undergoing interrogation. The Chief of Army Staff, Toareed Lagbaja, has sent a high-level delegation to visit and condole with Muhammad's family.
