“They Said It Was a Mistake” — Father of Slain NYSC Member Speaks After Soldier Shooting

KEY POINTS

• A serving NYSC member was shot dead by soldiers in Abuja.
• The family rejects this account, saying there was no gunfight and that soldiers admitted it was a mistake.
• Witnesses allege threats, forced cleanup of evidence, and that the victim was killed inside his room.

The Nigerian Army said Abdulsamad Jamiu, a serving NYSC member, was killed during a crossfire on April 25 in Dei-Dei, Abuja, when troops responded to a distress call about armed robbers.

According to the Guards Brigade, soldiers came under fire from fleeing suspects, leading to a brief gun battle that killed the NYSC member.

The family of the NYSC member disputed the army’s account, insisting there was no evidence of a gunfight. His father, Sani Jimoh, said soldiers later told him the killing was a mistake while they were chasing a suspected thief who they believed had entered their compound.

He questioned how the situation led to his son being shot inside his room, to which the soldiers reportedly responded by asking him to “calm down,” describing it as an error.

Sister Recounts Horror, Alleges Threats

Jamiu’s sister, Farida, who witnessed the incident, said soldiers forced her outside and later prevented her from entering her brother’s room. When she eventually saw him, he was lying dead in a pool of blood.

She alleged that soldiers threatened her to keep quiet and later called vigilantes to clean up bloodstains and remove evidence from the scene.

The victim’s mother said her son was likely shot after responding to loud banging on his door. She also claimed soldiers shot at the door before entering and later ordered vigilantes to clean the blood using items from the family’s kitchen.

A close friend described Jamiu as calm and friendly, noting they had spent the previous evening together playing games. He added that there had been no recent violence in the area before the incident