‎Family of slain corps member demands answers as mother recounts midnight raid ‎

The family of 24-year-old National Youth Service Corps member, Abdulsamad Jamiu, is demanding a full investigation into his death after soldiers allegedly stormed their home in Dei-Dei, Abuja, in the early hours of April 25, 2026, and shot him dead.
‎
‎His mother, Habiba Abubakar, has described the incident as a night she will never forget, saying the family has been left in shock, confusion, and deep grief over what she believes was an avoidable tragedy.
‎
‎Speaking emotionally, Abubakar said she was away for a burial with her husband when a neighbour called around 2:30 a.m. to report gunshots in their neighbourhood.
‎
‎She said panic set in as repeated attempts to reach family members yielded unclear explanations.
‎
‎According to her, relatives initially told her soldiers had taken her son away for questioning, but she later discovered he had been killed inside the family home.
‎
‎She alleged that soldiers forced their way into the compound by scaling the fence and went directly to her son’s room, where he was shot through a closed door.
‎
‎ She further claimed that vigilante members were later instructed to clean up blood at the scene.
‎
‎The Nigerian Army, through the Headquarters Guards Brigade, has said the corps member was mistakenly caught in crossfire during an operation targeting armed robbers following a distress call.
‎
‎But the family has strongly rejected this account, insisting that the circumstances described by the military do not match what they believe happened inside their home.
‎
‎They argue that there was no exchange of fire at the residence and that the nature of the wound suggests a shot fired at close range through a door.
‎
‎They are now calling for an independent investigation, accountability for those involved, and a formal explanation from the military authorities.
‎
‎For Abubakar, however, the official statements offer little comfort. Still struggling to process the loss, she has continued to ask why her son had to die in such circumstances, insisting that the family deserves the truth.