A TEENAGER IN ZARIA WAS KILLED BY A SOLDIER DURING THE #ENDBADGOVERNANCE PROTEST CURFEW

 The #EndBadGovernance protest in Kaduna State turned violent on Tuesday, resulting from the killing of a teenager by a soldier in the Samaru area of Zaria.

A tragic incident occurred during the enforcement of a 24-hour curfew in Kaduna State, when 16-year-old Ismail Muhammad was shot and killed by a soldier inside his father’s house. The curfew was imposed by the Kaduna State Government following violent protests that erupted in Zaria and Kaduna on Monday.

In a statement, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, confirmed the incident and announced that the soldier involved in the shooting has been arrested and is undergoing interrogation. According to Major General Nwachukwu, the incident occurred when a group of hoodlums blocked the road, set fires, and attempted to attack the troops. In response, a soldier fired a warning shot to disperse the crowd, which tragically resulted in the death of Ismail Muhammad.

Deeply saddened by the incident, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja, dispatched a delegation led by Major General Lander Saraso, the General Officer Commanding One Division, to visit and offer condolences to the deceased's family.

The unfortunate incident happened amid the curfew imposed on Kaduna and Zaria by the state government. The #EndBadGovernance protests took a violent turn on Monday when hoodlums disguised as protesters began looting government and private properties. Some protesters were seen carrying Russian flags as they expressed their frustration over the ongoing hardships and hunger in the country.

By Tuesday, our correspondents reported that the Sheikh Abubakar Gumi Central Market in Kaduna was deserted due to the curfew. Shops, filling stations, and other businesses were shut down as a result of the restrictions.

On Monday, Samuel Aruwan, the Overseeing Commissioner of the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, stated that the curfew was imposed in the interest of maintaining peace. He explained that the decision was made after Governor Uba Sani met with the State Security Council.

"There is sufficient evidence to clearly indicate that the ongoing protest has been hijacked by criminal elements who have resorted to looting shops and destroying private and public property," said Aruwan.

"In view of this unfortunate development, the Kaduna State Security Council has unanimously resolved to impose a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna and Zaria metropolises and surrounding areas with immediate effect. Citizens are advised to remain indoors while security forces work to maintain safety and security. Monitoring will be sustained for review of the curfew as required."