ABUJA, Nigeria — The family of Abdulsamad Jamiu, a National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member killed during a military operation in Abuja, has rejected the Nigerian Army’s account that he died in crossfire, calling instead for an independent investigation.
In a statement, the family said Jamiu was shot inside his room in Dei-Dei’s Shagari Estate at about 2 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, disputing claims by the Nigerian Army that he was caught in an exchange of gunfire during a response to a reported robbery.
“He was shot in his room,” the family said, adding that the circumstances described by the military were inconsistent with what they said was evidence at the scene.
Dispute Over Circumstances of Shooting
The Guards Brigade Quick Response Force had earlier said its personnel came under fire from fleeing robbers and that Jamiu was killed in the ensuing exchange.
The family challenged that account, stating that no armed adversary had been identified and no weapon recovered to support the claim of a gun battle.
“No such adversary has been identified, produced, or accounted for,” the family said.
They also disputed reports of a robbery incident in the area that night, saying no such event was known within the community.
According to the family, a bullet was fired through the door of Jamiu’s room from outside, striking him in the head.
They said the trajectory of the bullet and damage to the door suggested he was not involved in any confrontation.
“The shot was fired from outside the room, through a closed door,” the statement said.
Allegations of Entry and Evidence Handling
The family further alleged that soldiers entered the premises by scaling the fence, citing visible damage to barbed wire, while the main gate remained intact.
They said Jamiu’s sister, who was in the house at the time, came out after hearing the gunshot but was instructed by soldiers to leave the immediate area.
Neighbours who responded reportedly alerted a local vigilance group, whose members were later directed by soldiers to clean bloodstains at the scene, the family said, raising concerns about evidence preservation.
Claims of Admission and Demand for Accountability
The family also alleged that soldiers later acknowledged the shooting was a mistake and that an innocent person had been killed, saying the admission was made in the presence of a Divisional Police Officer and recorded in writing.
They said these circumstances undermined the military’s official account and reinforced the need for accountability.
The family called for an independent investigation with civilian oversight, as well as the identification, suspension and prosecution of those involved.
They also demanded a retraction of the Army’s earlier statement and a formal public apology.
“We demand an immediate, independent and transparent investigation,” the family said.
The Nigerian Army had not publicly responded to the family’s latest allegations as of the time of reporting.
