The #EndBadGovernance protest in Kaduna State turned deadly on Tuesday when a soldier shot and killed a teenager in the Samaru area of Zaria. The victim, 16-year-old Isma’il Muhammad, was reportedly shot inside his father's house while security forces were enforcing a 24-hour curfew imposed by the Kaduna State Government in response to violent protests that erupted in Zaria and Kaduna on Monday.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed the incident in a statement, revealing that the soldier responsible for the shooting has been arrested and is undergoing interrogation. According to Nwachukwu, the incident occurred when hoodlums blocked the road, set fires, and attempted to attack the troops, prompting a soldier to fire a warning shot, which tragically resulted in the death of Muhammad.
Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, deeply saddened by the incident, has dispatched a delegation led by Major General Lander Saraso, General Officer Commanding One Division, to visit and offer condolences to the bereaved family.
The incident happened against the backdrop of a curfew imposed on Kaduna and Zaria by the state government. On Monday, the protest took a violent turn as hoodlums, posing as protesters, looted government and private properties. Some protesters were seen carrying Russian flags, expressing their frustration over the current hardship and hunger in the country.
By Tuesday, the Sheikh Abubakar Gumi Central Market in Kaduna was deserted due to the curfew, and shops, filling stations, and markets were shut down.
Samuel Aruwan, the Overseeing Commissioner of the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, stated that the curfew was necessary to maintain peace. He said Governor Senator Uba Sani imposed the curfew after a meeting with the State Security Council, citing evidence that the protest had been hijacked by criminal elements engaging in looting and property destruction.
Aruwan urged citizens to remain indoors while security forces worked to ensure safety and security, with ongoing monitoring to review the curfew as needed.
