Atiku Commends Army For Detaining Soldier Who Killed Protester, Calls For Investigation Into Other Killings

Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has commended the Nigerian Army for detaining a soldier who killed a protester in Kaduna on Tuesday.

Atiku stated this on Wednesday after the army said it had taken in the soldier for investigation to unravel the circumstances that led to the killing of the young boy.

The military in a statement on Wednesday said the unnamed soldier is being detained for accidentally killing the young boy it said was a member of a mob disturbing members of the public.

It said soldiers responded to distress calls and shot into the air to disperse the mob but unfortunately killed one of them.

Atiku however said he’s “heartened by the acknowledgement made by the Nigerian Army regarding the tragic incident that resulted in the loss of a young protester’s life.”

He called for “thorough investigations into other instances of violence perpetrated by the military, police, and other security agencies during these protests, in the spirit of accountability.”

He said the decision to detain the soldier “responsible for this unfortunate incident marks a commendable step towards accountability and preserving the rule of law.”

The former VP said he had “consistently advised the service chiefs and military commanders that the use of lethal force against peaceful protesters must not be authorised.

“Upholding the principle of accountability is paramount, and the actions taken by the Nigerian Army in apprehending and, hopefully, prosecuting the soldier responsible for this incident align with this fundamental principle.”

He stressed that “even amidst conflicts, it is crucial to adhere to rules of engagement. Soldiers should not be deployed to suppress civil rights protests.”