A soldier has allegedly shot dead a 16-year-old boy, Isma’il Muhammad, in the Zaria area of Kaduna State.

The boy’s mother, Zainab Sani, said the shooting occurred at their residence at Sarkin Pawa Street, Samaru, Zaria, by a trigger-happy soldier on patrol alongside his colleagues on Tuesday, August 6, 2024.

Sani said Isma’il was playing with his friends and brother in front of their house when they saw soldiers coming in their direction at about 9 a.m. on Tuesday.

“With one of the soldiers pointing his gun at them, they ran into the house and shut the gate,” she said.

She alleged that the soldier, however, shot at the gate, thereby killing Isma’il, who stood by the gate to prevent the soldiers from gaining entrance.

Sani added that her son had just written his final secondary school examination in Zaria and was seeking admission to further his education when the incident occurred.

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Speaking on the incident, the Nigerian Army said it will investigate the alleged killing of the 16-year-old boy by the soldier.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna State, Maj.-Gen. MLD Saraso, made this known when he visited the family of the deceased in Zaria on Tuesday.

The GOC later addressed youths in the area, saying he was in Zaria to commiserate with the family and the community over the incident.

Saraso assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted on the matter and invited any community member with substantive evidence to forward the same for necessary action.

Saraso described the incident as unfortunate, urging the members of the community to live in peace and always abide by the law and order.

The Star