The mother of a slain National Youth Service Corps member, Habiba Abubakar, has recounted the harrowing moments she learnt of her son’s death, describing a chain of confusion, fear and unanswered questions surrounding the incident in Dei-Dei, Abuja.
Her son, Abdulsamad Jamiu, 24, was killed in the early hours of April 25 at the family’s residence in the Shagari Quarters while his parents were away.
Speaking in an interview with TheCable, Abubakar said she had travelled with her husband for a burial when a neighbour alerted her to gunshots in their area in the early hours of the day.
She said repeated attempts to reach her children failed, heightening her anxiety, while her husband initially gave vague information about the situation.
According to her, he told her that soldiers had taken her son away for questioning, a claim she found difficult to understand at the time.
She added that her phone was briefly taken from her during the confusion, and when she eventually regained access, she began to suspect the worst.
Abubakar said she only confirmed the tragedy upon arriving in Abuja, where she was informed that her son had been killed.
Narrating what she was later told about the incident, she alleged that soldiers entered the compound through the fence, proceeded to the back entrance and went straight to her son’s room, where he was shot.
She further claimed that after the incident, some individuals were directed to clean the scene using items taken from her kitchen, raising concerns about possible attempts to tamper with evidence.
The deceased’s sister was said to be in the house at the time of the incident.
However, the Nigerian Army, through its Guards Brigade, maintained that the victim was caught in crossfire when troops responded to a distress call over an armed robbery attack in the area.
The brigade’s spokesperson, Olawuyi Odunola, said soldiers came under fire from fleeing suspects and that the casualty occurred during the exchange.
But the family has rejected the military’s account, insisting it does not reflect what transpired.
In a statement, the family argued that available evidence suggested the shot was fired from outside the room, which they said contradicts the claim of a crossfire.
They also stated that no weapon was recovered at the scene and that witnesses reported hearing only a single gunshot.
The family further alleged that some soldiers present admitted the shooting was a mistake in the presence of a Divisional Police Officer.
They have called for an independent investigation into the incident, as well as the suspension and prosecution of those involved, a retraction of the military’s position and a formal apology.
The family added that the incident represents a grave failure of the military’s constitutional responsibility to protect citizens.