Corps member’s death: Family demands probe, rejects army’s account

The tragic death of Abdulsamad Jamiu, a National Youth Service Corps member, has ignited a serious dispute between his grieving family and the Nigerian Army, with the family vehemently rejecting the military's official account. This stark disagreement underscores a critical issue of trust and accountability when security forces are involved in civilian deaths.

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This statement is issued in direct and formal response to the account of events published by the Nigerian Military, which the family categorically rejects as false, misleading, and an affront to the memory of an innocent young man.

The family's detailed rebuttal paints a grim picture, directly contradicting the army's claim that Jamiu was an innocent bystander caught in a crossfire during an anti-robbery operation. They assert that soldiers unlawfully entered his home in Dei-Dei, Abuja, and shot him through his bedroom door in the early hours of April 25. This account, if true, suggests a grave dereliction of duty and potentially a deliberate act of violence, rather than an unfortunate accident during a security operation.

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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 consistent with military personnel discharging a lethal weapon at a person they could not see.

What makes this case particularly disturbing is the family's meticulous deconstruction of the army's narrative. They point to the absence of any recovered weapons or evidence of a shootout, arguing that the trajectory of the bullet is inconsistent with a firefight and more indicative of a shot fired at someone unseen. The alleged covert entry into the compound by scaling the fence further raises questions about the legality and necessity of the soldiers' actions.

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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.

From our perspective at The Punch, this incident demands a thorough and impartial investigation. The Nigerian Army's account, presented by the Headquarters Guards Brigade, needs to be rigorously examined against the family's detailed allegations. The public deserves transparency and justice, especially when a young life is lost under such contentious circumstances. The family's demand for a probe is not just about seeking closure but about ensuring that such incidents are not repeated and that the actions of security forces are held to the highest standards of accountability.

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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.