Angry youth in Kaduna on Friday took to the streets to
protest the death of a man simply identified as
Solomon.

A witness told TheCable that a soldier shot the victim
in front of Command Secondary School, Sabon Tasha,
Kaduna.

Kingsley Umoh, deputy director, army public relations,
1 division Nigerian army, confirmed that someone died
as a result of shots fired by a soldier.

The deceased was said to be packing sand from a
gutter close to the fence of the school when the tragic
incident occured.

The soldiers guarding the school have reportedly
warned the youth against scooping sand from the spot
where Solomon was killed.

The witness said on Friday morning, some youth
converged on the place to get sand but that all of
them, apart from the deceased, fled when they sighted
soldiers.

Solomon was alleged to have argued with an officer
who ordered him out of the area.

“He told the soldier to allow him pack the sand to get
something to eat. He argued that he was packing the
sand inside gutter that belongs to nobody, and the
soldier got angry and opened fire,” the witness said.
Solomon’s death enraged the youth who assembled
and decided the next line of action.

They reportedly carried the corpse to the school, where
they demanded that the “killer soldier” be brought out.

The aggrieved protesters barricaded the entrance of
the school and several roads within the area, causing
serious traffic gridlock.

When the police failed in their bid to calm the youth, a
combined team of soldiers and mobile police were
deployed.

Speaking at an emergency meeting with some
traditional rulers and youth leaders from the
community, Yakubu Soja, a top military officer who
represented Nasir el-Rufai, governor of the state,
assured the people that the culprit would be
prosecuted.

He said the governor was saddened by the
development.

“A soldier of the Division Internal Security Force
deployed at Command Secondary School Kaduna
opened fire on some youths suspected to have
encroached into the school premises. One of the
youths was hit and died at the spot,” Umoh’s
statement read.

“Officers have been deployed to the scene of the
incidence in response and the police have also been
invited to take control of the situation.”

TheCable