The Nigerian Army‘s Headquarters Guards Brigade has announced that it has opened an investigation into the murder of Abdulsamad Jamiu, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), amid an alleged gunfight between soldiers and armed thieves in Abuja’s Dei-Dei neighborhood.
Lieutenant Olawuyi Odunola, the Headquarters Guards Brigade’s spokesperson, confirmed the youth corper, Abdulsamad Jamiu, demise in a statement on Sunday.
According to Odunola’s account, Jamiu was shot and killed in the early hours of April 25, 2026, at Shagari Estate, Dei-Dei, Abuja, when Guards Brigade Quick Response Group soldiers on a regular night patrol responded to a distress call after an armed robbery attack occurred nearby. Reports said that Jamiu was caught in the crossfire during the brief but furious clash between the troops and the armed thieves who were fleeing, according to the statement.
According to Odunola, the Commander, Guards Brigade, officers, and soldiers sent their sincere sympathies to the deceased’s family, the National Youth Service Corps, and everyone impacted by this terrible loss.
“This heartbreaking loss has cast a deep shadow over all personnel of the Guards Brigade. 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.
“We share in their grief and stand in solidarity with them during this moment of profound sorrow.
“Guards Brigade affirms its unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property within the Federal Capital Territory. We will continue to review our operational procedures to further enhance civilian safety, even as our troops confront criminal elements who threaten the peace of our communities.
“Members of the public are urged to remain calm and continue to cooperate with security agencies as we work collectively to maintain safety and security”, the Army spokesperson said.
ENigeria Newspaper gathered that the deceased’s remains have been deposited at Kubwa General Hospital and respectfully given to the relevant governmental authorities.
Family of Abdulsamad Jamiu opposes Nigerian Army account
The military’s version of events has been challenged by the family of Abdulsamad Jamiu, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member who was slain by Guards Brigade Quick Response Force soldiers in Dei-Dei, Shagari Estate, Abuja.
The complaint claims that while their parents were abroad in Okene for a funeral, Jamiu’s sister was at home.
“Nigerian military personnel discharged a firearm at close range through the door of Abdulsamad’s room. The shot struck him in the head, killing him instantly,” the statement reads.
“The trajectory of the bullet, confirmed by physical examination of the bullet hole, which runs from the room door to the wall, establishes that the shot was fired from outside the room, through a closed door. No such adversary has been identified, produced, or accounted for. No weapon was recovered from the scene. No shell casings attributed to any party other than the military have been documented.
“The point of entry used by the military personnel was the fence, which they scaled. The remnants of fallen barbed wire at the fence remain visible and physically verifiable at the scene to this day”, the statement added.
According to the family, Jamiu’s sister ran downstairs after hearing the gunfire, but the troops instructed her to exercise patience. However, the family claims that the troops gave the vigilance group members instructions to “mop up the blood and flush it” upon their arrival, which raises grave concerns over the preservation of evidence.
The family claimed that before being allowed to take their son’s remains for burial, they had to put up with hours of statements and administrative processes.
It further stated that there were no reports of robberies in the neighborhood that evening and that the gate to the property was undamaged at the time of the incident.
They added that the soldiers acknowledged the shooting was an error and that they had murdered an innocent person when questioned.
