Family of a National Youth Service Corps member, Abdulsamad Jamiu, has rejected the Nigerian Army’s account of the circumstances surrounding his death in Dei-Dei, Abuja, insisting that the 24-year-old was shot by soldiers inside his home.
The military had earlier stated that Jamiu was caught in crossfire on April 25 when troops from the Guards Brigade responded to a distress call from residents reportedly under attack by armed robbers.
According to the brigade’s spokesperson, Odunola Olawuyi, troops came under fire from fleeing suspects, leading to a brief exchange during which the corps member was fatally hit.
“Upon arrival, the troops came under gunfire from the fleeing armed robbers, resulting in a brief but intense exchange. In the course of the engagement, Mr Jamiu was caught in the crossfire,” Olawuyi had said, describing the incident as tragic.
However, in a detailed rebuttal, the family described the Army’s version as “false, misleading, and an affront to the memory of an innocent young man”
According to the family, Jamiu was killed in the early hours of April 25 at his residence in Dei-Dei Shagari Quarters while his parents were away in Okene for a burial ceremony. They alleged that soldiers entered the compound around 2:00 a.m. and shot him through his bedroom door.They further stated that Jamiu’s sister, who was in the house at the time, rushed downstairs after hearing the gunshot but was instructed by soldiers to go outside and “calm down.
“The trajectory of the bullet conclusively establishes that the shot was fired from outside the room, through the closed door. This is not consistent with a firefight but rather with military personnel discharging a lethal weapon at a person they could not see,” the family said.
The family also disputed claims of a gun battle, noting that no weapons were recovered and no evidence of a shootout was found at the scene.
“An exchange of gunfire presupposes an adversary who is armed and actively firing. No such adversary has been identified. No weapon was recovered from the scene,” the statement added.
They further alleged that soldiers gained entry into the compound by scaling the fence rather than using the gate, raising concerns about the legality of the operation.
“This is not the entry pattern of a unit responding to an active armed robbery in lawful hot pursuit. This is the entry pattern of a covert, unannounced, and unlawful forced entry into a private residence,” the family said.
Residents and vigilante members reportedly heard only a single gunshot the one that killed Jamiu contradicting claims of an exchange of fire.The family also claimed that soldiers at the scene admitted responsibility, describing the killing as a mistake in the presence of a Divisional Police Officer.
“They acknowledged that the killing of Abdulsamad Jamiu was a mistake. They admitted that they had killed an innocent person,” the statement said.
Concerns were also raised over alleged attempts to tamper with evidence, with claims that vigilante members were instructed to clean the scene.The family is now demanding an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation, as well as the suspension and prosecution of those involved.
They also called for a retraction of the Army’s statement and a public apology.“The Nigerian Military operates under a constitutional mandate to protect Nigerian citizens. On the night of April 25, 2026, that mandate was catastrophically and fatally violated.
“The family does not seek vengeance. The family seeks justice. Justice requires truth. Justice requires accountability,” the statement said..
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