Early on April 25, 2026, in Shagari Quarters, Abuja, Guards Brigade troops claimed to had responded to an armed robbery call but entered the home NYSC Member Abdulsamad Jamiu, where he was with siblings while his parents were away.

The army called it a tragic crossfire mishap during a shootout with suspects, but family eyewitnesses and photos show bullets fired through his locked door, striking his head and stomach instantly.

The Nigerian Military publicly claimed that its personnel were engaged in active pursuit of armed robbers and that the fatal shooting of Abdulsamad Jamiu occurred in the course of an exchange of gunfire. The family rejected the account in its entirety and presents point-by-point rebuttal, each supported by verifiable evidence.

They accuse soldiers of delaying aid, removing his body, and cleaning the scene, while his grieving mother pleads, ‘Nigeria has happened to me. I need justice for my child.’

The family spokesperson RAD. Abu Bakr in rebuttal wrote: “the following facts are not in dispute and form the foundation:

1. At approximately 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, 25th April 2026, personnel of the Nigerian Military entered the residential premises of the Jamiu family at Dei-Dei Shagari Quarters, Abuja.

2. At the time of the incident, Abdulsamad Jamiu, aged 24 years, was present inside his room within the family residence. His sister was also present in the house. Their parents were absent, having travelled to Okene to attend a burial ceremony.

3. Nigerian Military personnel discharged a firearm at close range through the door of Abdulsamad’s room. The shot struck Abdulsamad Jamiu in the head, killing him instantly.

4. The trajectory of the bullet — confirmed by physical examination of the bullet hole, which runs from the room door to the wall of the room — conclusively establishes that the shot was fired from outside the room, through the closed door, into the room where Abdulsamad Jamiu was situated.”

5. On hearing the gunshot, Abdulsamad’s sister rushed downstairs, whereupon she was instructed by the soldiers present to go outside and “calm down.”

6. Neighbours who heard the gunshot contacted the community vigilante group. Upon their arrival, vigilante members were instructed by the military personnel to mop up the blood and flush it — a directive which, in itself, raises grave questions about the military’s intent to preserve an evidence-intact crime scene.

7. The body of Abdulsamad Jamiu was subsequently conveyed to Kubwa General Hospital by the police, who had arrived at the scene. The family was compelled to endure hours of statements and administrative paperwork before being granted access to retrieve their son’s remains for burial.

8. The military personnel present at the scene, when confronted by the family regarding the killing of their son, acknowledged that the shooting of Abdulsamad Jamiu was a mistake and that they had killed an innocent person. This acknowledgement was made in the presence of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and was recorded in a written statement.” The family account read.

However, the Guards Brigade expressed condolences, promised a full investigation, and pledged procedure reviews amid public outrage.