The #EndBadGovernance protest in Kaduna State turned deadly on Tuesday when a soldier shot and killed a 16-year-old boy, Isma’il Muhammad, in the Samaru area of Zaria.
Muhammad was reportedly shot inside his father’s house as security operatives enforced a 24-hour curfew imposed by the Kaduna State Government following violent protests on Monday.
Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, confirmed the incident in a statement. He said the soldier involved has been arrested and is undergoing interrogation.
According to Nwachukwu, the shooting occurred when hoodlums blocked the road, set fires, and attempted to attack the troops, prompting the soldier to fire a warning shot that tragically hit the teenager.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja, has expressed deep sorrow over the incident and sent a delegation led by Major General Lander Saraso, the General Officer Commanding One Division, to visit and offer condolences to the deceased’s family.
The curfew was imposed on Kaduna and Zaria by the state government in response to escalating violence. On Monday, hoodlums posing as protesters looted government and private properties.
Some protesters were seen carrying the Russian flag, expressing their frustration over the country’s hardships and hunger.
As of Tuesday, the Sheikh Abubakar Gumi central market in Kaduna was deserted, with shops, filling stations, and markets closed due to the curfew.
Samuel Aruwan, the Overseeing Commissioner of the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, stated that the curfew was necessary for peace. He noted that criminal elements had hijacked the protest, leading to looting and destruction.
The curfew aims to restore order while security forces work to ensure safety, with continuous monitoring for potential adjustments.
