The Samaru community in Kaduna State’s Soba Local Government Area is mourning the death of Ismail Muhammad, a 16-year-old boy, who was allegedly shot by troops on the first day of the national hunger strike.
Our journalist, who visited the neighbourhood and the dead teenager’s home last Thursday, observed that the mood was filled with melancholy.
Muhammad Abubakar, the deceased’s elder brother and an eyewitness, informed The PUNCH that Ismail, a fashion designer and JSS 3 student at the Government Secondary School Samaru in Zaria, was shot within their compound in Samaru, a suburb of the city.
When our correspondent visited the family in Samaru, Zaria, he noticed that the tragic tragedy had shocked his parents and relatives, as neighbours gathered in circles to discuss the situation.
Abubakar described how the tragedy occurred, saying, “We were all outdoors, including some of our neighbours, watching what was going on when we noticed a military in our area. Everyone dashed inside; I was the last to enter the house, and I shut the door.
“I later heard two gunshots, and my second sibling, Usman Muhammad, shouted that troops had slain Ismail. I stepped to the door and peeked. I confirmed that Ismail had been shot, but I couldn’t get to him. “The soldier fired another shot at the door.”
According to Abubakar, when the troops left, “some of our neighbours came knocking at the door.”
“I opened the door, and I saw that he (Ismail) was shot in the throat and in the back, around his spinal cord.”I carried him and began hurrying to the hospital. On our journey, I met two troops, and as I was informing them that they had killed my younger brother, some soldiers stationed outside the market square arrived in a Hilux van and nearly hit us, but I crossed a gutter and left Ismail’s body behind. After then, I’m not sure what occurred,” Abubakar said.
According to him, Ismail remained at home and never took part in the ongoing #EndBadGovernance demonstration.
“We’re calling on the government to ensure justice and fairness for Ismail who was brutally killed,” the brother said.
During Thursday’s visit, our correspondent reported that the Emir of Zaria, Alhaji Nuhu Bamalli, visited the family of the victim.
“We have talked about this already, that virtually everybody in this country is aware of the harsh economy.
“Protest that’ll lead to vandalism of people’s property and loss of life is what we’re running away from. Everybody is disturbed by the sad incident coupled with the banditry activities. Our farms are not accessible because of bandits and these bad incidents are happening virtually every day,” the Emir lamented.
He called on residents to synergise with security forces to ensure bad elements did not infiltrate their communities.
The Emir also commended the Nigerian Army for raising a commission of inquiry to unravel the circumstances surrounding Ismail’s killing, so that justice can be served to the deceased and the family.