The Nigerian Army has come under fierce backlash following the death of Abdulsamad Jamiu, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps, who was killed in the Dei-Dei area of the Federal Capital Territory during the early hours of Saturday.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Odunola Olawuyi, said that troops of the Quick Response Group were on a routine night patrol when they responded to a distress call regarding an armed robbery.

According to Olawuyi, the troops came under fire from fleeing suspects, leading to a “gun duel,” and Jamiu was tragically “caught in the crossfire” during the exchange.

The official narrative was almost immediately challenged by relatives and friends who provided a different account of the night.

In a now-viral video from the residence where the incident was said to have happened, a TikTok user identified as #Zarah.2, who claimed to be Jamiu’s relative, alleged that the soldiers scaled the fence around 2:00 a.m., and shot through Jamiu’s door twice, hitting his head.

“Nigeria has happened to our family. Justice must be done for my brother Abdulsamad,” her caption read.

“Around 2am, you just go into somebody’s house, go straight to the guy’s room, shoot his door twice, and burst the guy’s head. Guy that will be done with service next month,” she lamented.

“A soldier, not just common people, they fly through the fence…, you come into somebody’s house, you know the guy’s room, you go straight to the guy’s room and shoot him. You shot him not once but twice.”

She further alleged that the soldiers “cleaned the blood on the floor,” and tried to dismiss the incident as a “mistake.”

“Nigerian soldiers, you just go to your station and make a statement that it’s just a mistake, what is the mistake for? You cleaned the blood o” the floor because the parents weren’t around, and you say it’s just a mistake,” she said.

A friend of the deceased, posting as #Mohamazinggg on X, also corroborated these details, stating that three armed military men forced their way into the house while Jamiu was home with his younger siblings.

Sharing some videos from the scene, #Mohamazinggg wrote, “While at home with his siblings (his parents were away), 3 armed military men forced their way into their house around 2am claiming they were chasing a thief.

“They encountered him, and he locked his door like anyone would do to protect themselves and his siblings because he was the eldest and he had a duty to protect his siblings.

“They shot through the door multiple times. A bullet hit his head, and another hit his stomach. They killed him in his own home.”

The friend also alleged that the soldiers prevented Jamiu’s sister from seeking help and called local vigilantes to clean the crime scene.

“They prevented his sister from going to him. They tried to stop her from calling for help, and when help finally came, his body was taken away. The soldiers called the local vigilante to come and clean the scene. No clear answers were given,” he said.

A TikTok video shared on Monday by #pjbulama showed some individuals protesting with placards in front of the residence where the incident happened, chanting “Justice for Samad.”

A group of soldiers and policemen were also seen stationed at the front of the residence as the protest went on.

The incident has sparked outrage among social media users, reigniting conversations regarding military conduct in civilian areas and the lack of public confidence in internal security investigations.

A Community Note was appended to the Army’s official post on X, informing readers that the Army’s crossfire claim contradicts “witness accounts alleging soldiers forced entry into his home and shot him through his locked room door.”

Commenting under the Army’s post, #betsage24 also wrote, “Crossfire indeed! Look at where ur men shot from! Did the gunfight happen in the house? Arrest the monster that carried out this crime and charge him!”

“I urge you to investigate this matter thoroughly; this was a case of extrajudicial killing. He didn’t die in a crossfire. Your men went down to his room and killed him. He was alone and defenceless without a weapon,” #fuhadd_sol wrote.

#successfulaare added, “This is a painful and unacceptable loss. A young NYSC member losing his life in such circumstances is not something we should normalise. Incidents like this continue to shake public confidence in our security system.

“It’s important that this investigation is not just routine, but truly transparent, with clear accountability where necessary. Nigeria can-and must -do better.”

In its statement, the Nigerian Army noted that an investigation had commenced to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, assuring that the findings would be made public.

“The Brigade has since initiated a thorough investigation to fully ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident. We remain committed to transparency and accountability, and findings will be made available in due course,” it wrote. (The PUNCH)