Family of Slain NYSC Member Rejects Army’s Account, Demands Independent Probe

Abdulsamad Jamiu

Family of Slain NYSC Member Rejects Army’s Account, Demands Independent Probe

The family of Abdulsamad Jamiu, a 24-year-old National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member allegedly killed by military personnel in Abuja, has issued a detailed rebuttal challenging the Nigerian Army’s account of the circumstances surrounding his death. In a formal statement released on April 26, 2026, the family described the Army’s version of events as “false, misleading, and an affront to the memory of an innocent young man,” insisting that available evidence contradicts claims that Jamiu was caught in a crossfire during an operation against armed robbers.

Jamiu was reportedly shot dead in the early hours of April 25 at his residence in Dei-Dei Shagari Quarters, within the Federal Capital Territory. According to the family, soldiers entered the premises at about 2:00 a.m. while Jamiu was inside his room. His parents were said to be out of town attending a burial, leaving him and his sister at home. The statement alleged that military personnel fired a shot through Jamiu’s closed bedroom door, hitting him in the head and killing him instantly. The family added that the trajectory of the bullet shows it was fired from outside the room into a closed space, which they argue contradicts any claim of an exchange of gunfire.

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The Nigerian Army had earlier maintained that its personnel were pursuing armed robbers and that the fatal shooting occurred during a gun battle. However, the family dismissed this explanation, pointing to what it described as several inconsistencies. Residents in the area reportedly heard only a single gunshot—the one that killed Jamiu—with no indication of any exchange of fire. The family also said local vigilante members confirmed that no robbery incident was reported in the community that night. In addition, they questioned the manner of entry, alleging that soldiers scaled the fence and damaged barbed wire instead of entering through the gate or announcing their presence. They further noted that no suspects were arrested and no weapons were recovered, which they say undermines the military’s claim.

A central element of the family’s rebuttal is the claim that soldiers at the scene admitted the shooting was a mistake. According to the statement, this admission was made in the presence of a Divisional Police Officer and documented in a written statement. The family argued that such an admission contradicts the military’s public narrative of a lawful engagement.

The family also raised concerns about how the scene was handled after the incident, alleging that soldiers instructed local vigilante members to clean up bloodstains rather than preserve the area for proper investigation. Jamiu’s body was later taken to Kubwa General Hospital by the police, and the family said they had to go through several hours of administrative procedures before retrieving his remains for burial.

In its demands, the family called for an independent and transparent investigation outside the military’s chain of command, as well as the identification and prosecution of those responsible for the shooting. They also requested a retraction of the Army’s public statement and a formal apology. Additionally, the family posed several questions to the military authorities, including who authorised the operation, the source of the alleged robbery report, and why force was used without confirming any threat.

Describing the incident as a serious violation of the military’s duty to protect citizens, the family said it would pursue all legal and institutional avenues to ensure accountability. They maintained that Abdulsamad Jamiu was unarmed, inside his room, and posed no threat at the time he was killed. The case has since drawn public attention, with calls for justice circulating on social media under the hashtag #JusticeForAbdulsamad.