Kaduna boils as soldier shoots civilian to death

Angry youth in Kaduna on Friday took to the streets to protest the death of a man simply identified as Solomon. 

A witness told TheCable that a soldier shot the victim in front of Command Secondary School, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna.

Kingsley Umoh, deputy director, army public relations, 1 division Nigerian army, confirmed that someone died as a result of shots fired by a soldier.

The deceased was said to be packing sand from a gutter close to the fence of the school when the tragic incident occured.

The soldiers guarding the school have reportedly warned the youth against scooping sand from the spot where Solomon was killed.

The witness said on Friday morning, some youth converged on the place to get sand but that all of them, apart from the deceased, fled when they sighted soldiers.

Solomon was alleged to have argued with an officer who ordered him out of the area.

“He told the soldier to allow him pack the sand to get something to eat. He argued that he was packing the sand inside gutter that belongs to nobody, and the soldier got angry and opened fire,” the witness said. ‎

Solomon’s death enraged the youth who assembled and decided the next line of action.

They reportedly carried the corpse to the school, where they demanded that the “killer soldier” be brought out.

The aggrieved protesters barricaded the entrance of the school and several roads within the area, causing serious traffic gridlock.

When the police failed in their bid to calm the youth, a combined team of soldiers and mobile police were deployed.

Speaking at an emergency meeting with some traditional rulers and youth leaders from the community, Yakubu Soja, a top military officer who represented Nasir el-Rufai, governor of the state, assured the people that the culprit would be prosecuted.

He said the governor was saddened by the development.

“A soldier of the Division Internal Security Force deployed at Command Secondary School Kaduna opened fire on some youths suspected to have encroached into the school premises. One of the youths was hit and died at the spot,” Umoh’s statement read.

“Officers have been deployed to the scene of the incidence in response and the police have also been invited to take control of the situation.”

Photo credit: Daily Post