Nigerian Army faces backlash over death of corps member in Abuja
via Punch Nigeria4 min read
The Nigerian Army is facing significant criticism following the death of Abdulsamad Jamiu, a National Youth Service Corps member, in the Dei-Dei area of Abuja. The Army, through Lieutenant Odunola Olawuyi, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, stated that Jamiu was caught in a crossfire during a gun duel between troops responding to an armed robbery distress call and fleeing suspects. However, relatives and friends of Jamiu have challenged this account. A TikTok user, identified as #Zarah.2 and claiming to be Jamiu’s relative, alleged that soldiers scaled a fence, entered Jamiu's residence around 2:00 a.m., and shot him twice through his door, hitting his head. She also claimed soldiers cleaned blood from the floor. A friend, #Mohamazinggg on X, corroborated these details, stating that three armed military men forced their way into the house where Jamiu was with his younger siblings, shot through his locked door multiple times, hitting him in the head and stomach. The friend further alleged that soldiers prevented Jamiu’s sister from seeking help and called local vigilantes to clean the scene. The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with protests demanding "Justice for Samad." A Community Note on the Army's official X post highlighted the contradiction between the Army's crossfire claim and witness accounts. The Nigerian Army has announced that a thorough investigation has commenced, and its findings will be made public.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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Must ReadThe family of Abdulsamad Jamiu, a National Youth Service Corps member reportedly killed by soldiers in Abuja, has demanded that the Nigerian Army retract its initial "crossfire" statement, calling it an "insult" to his memory. This demand followed a Monday morning visit to the family residence by a military delegation led by Brigadier S.O. Buhari. During the visit, the delegation reportedly admitted they were unaware the house was fenced or that the shooting occurred in a downstairs room, which the family noted contradicts the Army's earlier claim of a "stray bullet." The delegation expressed condolences and assured the family that the officers involved would be investigated. However, the family expressed distrust, stating that military personnel had visited the scene on Sunday before the Army's statement was issued. They are now demanding a formal retraction of the Army's press release and a public apology. The family insists that Jamiu was shot by soldiers inside his home, not caught in a crossfire, and demands justice and a transparent investigation, including identifying the commanding officer, the source of the alleged robbery report, and why force was used without confirming a threat. Jamiu was reportedly killed at approximately 2:00 am on Saturday, one month before completing his national service.