The Nigerian Army has come under fierce backlash following the death of Abdulsamad Jamiu, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who was killed in the Dei-Dei area of the Federal Capital Territory during the early hours of Saturday.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Odunola Olawuyi, said troops of the Quick Response Group were on a routine night patrol when they responded to a distress call regarding an armed robbery.
According to Olawuyi, the troops came under fire from fleeing suspects, leading to a “gun duel,” and Jamiu was tragically “caught in the crossfire” during the exchange.
The official account was immediately challenged by relatives and friends of the deceased, who offered a different version of events, triggering widespread outrage on social media and renewed debate over military conduct in civilian areas.
In a viral video shared from the residence where the incident reportedly occurred, a TikTok user identified as #Zarah.2, who claimed to be a relative of the deceased, alleged that soldiers scaled the fence around 2:00 a.m. and fired directly into Jamiu’s room, hitting him in the head.
“Nigeria has happened to our family. Justice must be done for my brother Abdulsamad,” she wrote.
She further alleged that the soldiers entered the house, moved directly to Jamiu’s room, and fired multiple shots through the door.
“Around 2am, you just go into somebody’s house… shoot the guy’s door twice, and burst the guy’s head,” she said in the video.
She also claimed that the soldiers attempted to manage the scene afterward and downplay the incident as a mistake.
“Nigerian soldiers… you just make a statement that it’s just a mistake. What is the mistake for?” she added.
Another friend of the deceased, posting as #Mohamazinggg on X, corroborated the claims, alleging that three armed military personnel forced their way into the house while Jamiu was at home with his younger siblings.
According to him, the soldiers claimed they were pursuing a suspect before shooting through the locked door, which led to Jamiu being fatally hit.
He also alleged that the family was initially prevented from seeking help promptly and that local vigilantes were later called to the scene.
The incident has sparked renewed calls for accountability in military operations within residential communities, with many Nigerians demanding an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Jamiu’s death.
