The Nigerian Army has reportedly offered ₦300,000 to the family of Ismail Mohammed, the 16-year-old boy killed during the #EndBadGovernance protests in Samaru, Zaria.
An activist, Aliyu Kwarbai, posted this information on Wednesday via an X (Twitter). The gesture, which many have deemed inhumane, comes after the army initially claimed that Ismail’s death was a “mistake.”
On Tuesday, Major General MLD Saraso, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, visited the family to offer condolences and urged community members with evidence to come forward to assist in the investigation.
In statement, the Army spokesperson Onyema Nwachukwu said a soldier fired a warning shot to disperse protesters, accidentally killing Ismail.
READ MORE: #EndHunger Protests: After Public Denial, Nigerian Army Admits Killing 16-Year-Old Boy by ‘Mistake’
However, eyewitness accounts paint a different picture. Ismail’s parents alleged that soldiers followed their son home and shot through the gate, killing him as he stood behind the gate to stop the soldiers from entering.
The army’s attempt to compensate the family with ₦300,000 has been met with widespread outrage, with many asking if money was enough “compensation” for the life of the teenager, who was shot intentionally by a soldier.
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