The tragic killing of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member Abdulsamad Jamiu by soldiers in Abuja has sparked outrage and calls for justice, as his mother Habiba Abubakar recounts the harrowing details of the night her son was shot dead in his home. The incident occurred on the night of April 25, 2026, in the Dei-Dei area of Abuja, where soldiers allegedly stormed the family residence, firing shots through the door while Abdulsamad was inside his room. Abubakar, who was away attending a burial ceremony, received a distressing call from a neighbour around 2:30 a.m. reporting gunshots, which immediately filled her with fear.
She attempted to contact her children, but one phone was off and another line was busy. When she finally reached her husband, he initially withheld the truth, saying only, “Soldier carried Abdulsamad.” The ambiguity and the sudden seizure of her phone during the call confirmed her worst fears. “That was when I knew that my son is not alive again,” she said, her voice breaking with grief. According to her, soldiers scaled the fence and forced entry into the house, shooting through the door twice, even though her son was unarmed and inside his room.
Abubakar further alleged that after the shooting, soldiers instructed local vigilantes to clean the blood from the scene. “They entered my kitchen, took Klin… took bucket and gave the vigilante to mop the blood,” she said, questioning the motive behind such actions. This has fueled suspicions of a cover-up and raised serious concerns about accountability and transparency. The Nigerian Army, through the Guards Brigade, claimed that Abdulsamad died during a crossfire while troops responded to an armed robbery incident. Spokesperson Lieutenant Olawuyi Odunola stated the incident happened “in the course of the engagement” with fleeing suspects.
However, the family has firmly rejected this narrative, citing evidence that contradicts the military’s account. They argue that the bullet trajectory showed the shot came from outside through a closed door, which is inconsistent with a firefight. Additionally, no weapons were found at the scene, and no armed suspects were identified. The family alleges that soldiers themselves admitted the killing was a mistake and acknowledged that an innocent person was killed. They have now called for an independent investigation, prosecution of those responsible, and a formal apology from the military.
In a powerful statement, the family emphasized that the Nigerian Military’s constitutional duty to protect citizens was “catastrophically and fatally violated” on that fateful night. As public outcry grows, the case has become a focal point in discussions about military conduct, civilian rights, and the need for institutional reform in Nigeria’s security sector. The demand for justice for Abdulsamad Jamiu continues to resonate across the nation, underscoring the urgent need for accountability and transparency in such incidents.
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