T he Samaru community in Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna State is in mourning following the death of a 16-year-old boy, Ismail Muhammad, who was allegedly shot by soldiers on the first day of the nationwide hunger protest.
Our correspondent, who visited the community and the grieving family last Thursday, found the atmosphere filled with sorrow and disbelief.
According to an eyewitness, Muhammad Abubakar, Ismail, a fashion designer and JSS 3 student at Government Secondary School Samaru, was shot inside their compound in Samaru, a suburb of Zaria. The tragedy occurred as the community was observing the protest.
Abubakar recounted the events leading to Ismail’s death: “We were outside with some neighbors when we saw a soldier in our area. Everyone ran inside; I was the last to enter and locked the door. Later, I heard two gunshots, and my sibling, Usman Muhammad, shouted that soldiers had killed Ismail. I peeked out and saw that Ismail had been shot, but I couldn’t go to him as the soldier fired another shot at the door.”
After the soldiers departed, Abubakar and some neighbors discovered Ismail’s body, which was wounded in the throat and back. Abubakar attempted to rush Ismail to the hospital but encountered further obstacles when soldiers nearly hit them with a vehicle. He was forced to leave Ismail’s body behind in the commotion.
Ismail, according to his brother, was not participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest and was instead at home when he was killed. The family is now calling for justice and accountability for the brutal killing.
During a visit to the family on Thursday, the Emir of Zaria, Alhaji Nuhu Bamalli, expressed his condolences and condemned the violence. He stressed the need for protests to be peaceful and urged residents to collaborate with security forces to prevent further violence and banditry.
The Emir also praised the Nigerian Army for initiating a commission of inquiry into Ismail’s death, promising that justice will be pursued for the victim and his family.
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