The father of a slain National Youth Service Corps member has revealed that military operatives admitted the killing of his son was a mistake, following an earlier denial by the Nigerian Army. Sani Jimoh stated that soldiers from the Army Guards Brigade told him the death of his son, Abdulsamad Jamiu, was an error, after an incident in Dei-Dei, Abuja.
Incident Details
Jamiu, a serving corps member, was killed on April 25 in Shagari Estate. The army initially claimed the incident occurred during a response to a distress call about armed robbers, stating that troops came under fire from fleeing robbers, leading to an exchange. However, the family rejected this account, citing physical evidence that disproves an exchange of gunfire.
Speaking after the incident, Jimoh explained that he was in Kogi state for his mother's funeral when he received a distress call around 2 am. Soldiers later gave their version of events, saying they were pursuing a thief but lost sight of him. They noticed altered barbed wire and believed someone had jumped into Jimoh's compound.
Jimoh questioned how they entered the main house, and they claimed the door seemed unlocked. When they tried to open Jamiu's room door, someone was blocking it, leading to the fatal shooting. Jimoh stated, 'They said that Oga calm down, it was a mistake.'
Family's Account
A delegation from the army later visited the family, while police described the incident as an unfortunate error. The family was asked to submit a statement before the body could be released. Jamiu's sister, Jamiu Farida, who witnessed the incident, alleged intimidation by soldiers.
Farida said soldiers showed her a broken barbed wire and window, asking if they were like that. She expected to be told her brother had escaped but discovered he had been shot. 'I wanted to go into my brother's room, but they dragged me, and I struggled until I discovered that my brother was dead and part of his brain was beside him on the floor,' she said. She added that soldiers threatened her and called vigilantes to clean the scene, even burying his brain nearby.
Mother's Reaction
The victim's mother, Abubakar Habiba, was out of town and learned of the incident from a neighbor. She speculated that her son may have responded to banging on his door before being shot. 'They shot the door twice,' she said, adding that soldiers called vigilantes to mop up the blood using detergent from her kitchen.
Friend's Testimony
A friend of the deceased, Yusuf Enesi, described Jamiu as peaceful, noting there had been no prior violence in the estate. He said they had spent Friday night together at a game hub, and he woke up to a call that Jamiu was shot in his room.
