In a shocking revelation, Malam Mohammed, the father of Ismail Mohammed who was killed in Samaru Zaria, has accused soldiers of pursuing his son to their home and gunning him down.
Speaking to journalists, the grieving father recounted how the soldiers, who were dispersing people, followed his son to their residence and opened fire.
“My son, a teenager of about 19 years, was outside when the soldiers began shooting. He dashed inside and bolted the door, but the soldiers pursued him and fired through the door. I was at Hayin Dogo when Abubakar phoned me to share the tragic news. It took me nearly an hour to get home after Ismail had already been fatally shot,” he narrated.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has pledged to investigate the death of Isma’il Muhammad following the serious allegations made by the family.
Maj.-Gen. MLD Saraso, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 1 Division, Nigerian Army in Kaduna, revealed this during his visit to the deceased’s family in Zaria on Tuesday.
Subsequently, the GOC engaged with the local youths, expressing his condolences and ensuring a thorough probe into the incident.
He reassured the community that a comprehensive inquiry would be carried out and urged anyone with concrete evidence to come forward for necessary action.
Saraso described the event as regrettable and urged the community to prioritize peace and adherence to law and order.
Meanwhile, Isma’il’s mother, Zainab Sani, recalled that the tragic shooting took place around 9.00 a.m. at their residence on Sarkin Pawa Street, Samaru, Zaria, by a soldier on patrol who recklessly discharged his firearm along with his teammates.
She recounted how Isma’il and his companions were playing outside their house when they noticed soldiers approaching.
“Seeing one of the soldiers aiming a gun at them, they rushed indoors and secured the gate,” she stated.
However, she claimed that despite their efforts, the soldier fired at the gate, fatally hitting Isma’il, who was bravely standing guard to prevent the soldiers from entering.