NYSC Member Killed During Abuja Security Operation, Army and Witnesses Give Conflicting Accounts

A serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Abdulsamad Jamiu, has died following a shooting during a security operation in the Dei-Dei area of Abuja, with conflicting accounts emerging over how he was killed.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday at Shagari Estate, where troops from the Guards Brigade Quick Response Group responded to a distress call over an armed robbery attack.

According to a statement by Guards Brigade spokesperson, Lt. Olawuyi Odunola, soldiers came under fire from fleeing robbery suspects on arrival, prompting a brief exchange of gunfire. He said Jamiu was caught in the crossfire and later died from his injuries.

Odunola said troops were attempting to repel the attackers and secure the area when the incident happened. He added that the military has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death and said the findings would be made public.

The army said Jamiu’s remains have been handed over to civil authorities and deposited at Kubwa General Hospital.

However, eyewitnesses have disputed the military’s account, alleging that soldiers forced their way into the corps member’s residence and shot him through a closed door.

Videos circulating online appear to show soldiers scaled a barbed-wire fence behind the house, adding to questions over the official version of events.

The conflicting accounts have triggered calls for an independent and thorough investigation, with many Nigerians demanding clarity on whether Jamiu was killed in crossfire or by direct military action.