NYSC Member’s Death: Family Disputes Army’s Crossfire Claim, Demands Probe

The family of a slain National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Abdulsamad Jamiu, has strongly rejected the Nigerian Army’s account of events surrounding his death, insisting that he was not caught in crossfire but was instead shot at close range inside his residence in Dei-Dei, Abuja.

The rebuttal follows an earlier statement by the Nigerian Army, which claimed that the 24-year-old corps member died during an exchange of gunfire between troops of the Guards Brigade and fleeing armed robbers in the early hours of April 25, 2026.

However, in a detailed counter statement issued on behalf of the family, the Army’s narrative was described as “false, misleading, and an affront to the memory of an innocent young man.”

According to the family, soldiers entered their residence at about 2:00 a.m. and allegedly fired a shot through the closed door of Abdulsamad’s room, striking him in the head and killing him instantly.

“The trajectory of the bullet clearly shows it was fired from outside through a closed door into the room. This contradicts any claim of crossfire,” the statement read.

The family further revealed that Abdulsamad was inside his room at the time of the incident, while his sister was also present in the house. Their parents were reportedly away attending a burial in Kogi State.

They also raised concerns over what they described as attempts to compromise evidence at the scene.

“Vigilante members who arrived were allegedly instructed by soldiers to mop up the blood and flush it, raising serious questions about the preservation of the crime scene,” the family stated.

In addition, the family claimed that military personnel at the scene admitted that the killing was a mistake and that Abdulsamad was innocent, an acknowledgment allegedly made in the presence of the Divisional Police Officer and documented in a written statement.

This sharply contradicts the Army’s position that the corps member was caught in a volatile exchange of gunfire during an anti-robbery operation.

The incident has since sparked outrage and renewed calls for accountability, with the family demanding a transparent and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has stated that a full investigation is underway and assured the public that findings will be made available.

The late Abdulsamad Jamiu’s body has been deposited at Kubwa General Hospital, as the family continues to seek justice over what they insist was a wrongful killing.