The family of a 24-year-old National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Abdulsamad Jamiu, has rejected the Nigerian Army’s account of the circumstances surrounding his death in the early hours of April 25 in Dei-Dei, Abuja, insisting he was unlawfully killed inside his home and not caught in a crossfire as claimed by the military.
In a statement issued on April 26, the family described the Army’s narrative of a gun battle with armed robbers as “false, misleading, and an affront to the memory of an innocent young man.”
According to the family, soldiers allegedly entered their residence at Shagari Quarters, Dei-Dei, around 2:00 a.m., where the deceased was asleep in his room. They stated that his sister was elsewhere in the house at the time, while his parents were out of town attending a burial in Kogi State.
The family alleged that a shot was fired through the closed door of Jamiu’s room, hitting him in the head and killing him instantly. They argued that the trajectory of the bullet indicates it was fired from outside the room, contradicting claims of a crossfire.
They further maintained that there was no evidence of a gun battle, noting that no weapon was recovered at the scene and no additional bullet casings were found apart from those allegedly linked to the soldiers.
Residents, according to the family, reported hearing only a single gunshot, with no indication of sustained gunfire. Community vigilantes contacted after the incident also reportedly confirmed that no robbery had been reported in the area that night.
The family also alleged that the soldiers gained access to the compound by scaling the fence rather than using the gate, and entered the house without announcing their presence. They questioned the use of lethal force without verification of any threat.
They claimed that soldiers at the scene admitted, in the presence of police officers, that the killing was a mistake and that the deceased was innocent. According to the family, this admission was documented in a statement before the Divisional Police Officer.
Concerns were also raised over the handling of the crime scene, with allegations that vigilante members were instructed by soldiers to clean bloodstains instead of preserving evidence for investigation.
The family has demanded answers from the military, including the identity of the unit involved, the basis for the operation, and the whereabouts of the alleged armed robbers. They also called for the release of the statement in which the soldiers allegedly admitted fault.
Seeking accountability, the family urged an independent investigation outside military control, the prosecution of those responsible, a retraction of the Army’s earlier statement, and a public apology.
“The family does not seek vengeance. The family seeks justice,” the statement read.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Army had not issued a response to the family’s claims.