The father of slain National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member Abdulsamad Jamiu has revealed that military operatives admitted his son’s death was a mistake during a visit to the family in Abuja. The incident occurred on April 25 in Dei-Dei, a residential area in the Federal Capital Territory, when troops responding to a distress call over an alleged armed robbery attack opened fire, resulting in Jamiu’s death. Sani Jimoh, the bereaved father, disclosed this during an interview with The Cable after a Nigerian Army delegation visited his home to offer condolences and inspect the scene of the incident.
The Guards Brigade had initially stated that Jamiu was caught in crossfire as troops engaged fleeing armed robbers. According to the military, “the troops came under gunfire from the fleeing armed robbers, resulting in a brief but intense exchange.” However, Jimoh said the soldiers’ account changed when he spoke with them directly. “They said that Oga calm down, and it was a mistake,” he recounted, indicating a shift from the official narrative to a more personal acknowledgment of error.
Jimoh explained that he and his wife were in Kogi State attending a burial when they received a distress call from their daughter around 2 a.m. on the day of the incident. The call informed them that their son had been shot inside his room at their Dei-Dei residence. He said the soldiers told him they were chasing suspected robbers and noticed signs of forced entry into his compound. “They said that they were pursuing a thief, but they couldn’t see the thief… they thought someone had jumped through it inside my compound,” Jimoh said.
He added that the operatives claimed they gained access to the house and tried to open his son’s room. “They were trying to open the door… and somebody was there trying to block them… and what happened now happened,” he quoted them as saying. Despite this explanation, the family has rejected the military’s version, pointing to physical evidence that contradicts the claim of a gun battle. They emphasized that Jamiu was shot inside his room, raising serious questions about how the situation escalated to a fatal outcome.
Jimoh also noted that the Divisional Police Officer in Dei-Dei described the incident as an “unfortunate mistake.” Police authorities reportedly requested a written statement and an undertaking from the family before releasing Jamiu’s body for burial. The family’s account has sparked public concern over the use of force by security operatives and the need for greater accountability in such cases.
As investigations continue, the incident has reignited calls for transparency and reform in how military and police forces respond to emergencies in civilian areas. The case of Abdulsamad Jamiu remains a poignant reminder of the human cost of security operations and the urgent need for protocols that protect innocent lives.
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