According to reports, the incident happened in the early hours of Saturday, April 26, 2026, when the soldiers were allegedly responding to a robbery alert in the area.

The military has reportedly described the incident as a case of “mistaken identity,” but the family strongly rejected that explanation, insisting there was no robbery or gunfire exchange in the community.

Jamiu, also known as Kesh, was a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member due to complete his service in May. He graduated with a second-class upper degree in civil engineering from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, and was said to have planned a career in the Nigerian Army through the Direct Short Service Commission.

His foster father, Engr. MomohSani Jimoh, said he was away in Okene, Kogi State, for his mother’s burial rites when he received a distress call from his daughter.

“At 2:04 a.m., my daughter called me. She said, ‘Daddy, the worst has happened.’ I asked what happened, and she said they have killed Samad,” Jimoh recounted.

He said he immediately abandoned the burial arrangements and rushed back to Abuja, alleging that the soldiers gained access to the compound through a section of the fence after the main gate had been locked.

“Our barbed wire was never like that. Who passed through there? The military. That was where they entered,” he said.

He also claimed that only one gunshot was heard by the neighbourhood vigilance team and that there was no evidence of any wider gunfight in the area.

Sister Alleges Harassment

The deceased’s sister, Farida Jimoh, said she was awakened by a gunshot and came downstairs to find armed men in military uniform in the corridor.

“They flashed a torch in my eyes and told me to calm down,” she said.

She alleged that the soldiers dragged her outside, pointed out a bent section of the fence, and claimed they were chasing an armed robber.

Farida said she later discovered her brother had been shot dead inside his room.

“I started screaming, and one of them told me to be quiet so I wouldn’t wake the neighbours,” she said.

She also alleged that the soldiers prevented her from contacting her father and briefly seized her phone.

Family Disputes Robbery Narrative

Jimoh said one of the soldiers later admitted to him that the shooting was a mistake.

“He said, ‘Oga, it was a mistake. It has happened. Calm down,’” he claimed.

The family also alleged that local vigilantes were instructed to clean up the room after the body was removed.

Jimoh further said journalists later gathered accounts from vigilantes in Hausa, which he said confirmed details of the incident.

Farida also alleged that additional soldiers arrived at the scene later and took control of the compound.

“They came on bikes and were taking pictures,” she said.

Military Delegation Visits Family

Jimoh said military officials, including a representative of the Chief of Defence Staff, have visited the family and assured them of an investigation.

He also demanded a correction of an earlier military statement which reportedly described the incident as a crossfire during a robbery attempt.

“There was no exchange of gunfire from robbers,” he insisted.

According to him, the delegation promised transparency and disciplinary action if necessary.

Police authorities have also reportedly taken statements from family members and neighbours, while the Divisional Police Officer confirmed that the military had moved the body to a hospital before police arrival.

Ajose made his position known during a television interview on Tuesday, reacting to reports that party leaders had allegedly endorsed Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as the preferred consensus candidate.

He explained that consensus cannot be imposed, stressing that no aspirant should be compelled to withdraw from the race against their will.

According to him, the push for a single candidate reflects fear of open competition, adding that every aspirant with genuine support should be ready to test their popularity in a primary election.

Ajose maintained that the APC constitution provides for primaries where all contestants can freely seek the party’s ticket, saying the process would allow delegates to determine the most popular candidate.

He also argued that many Lagos residents are dissatisfied with the current state of governance and are eager for change, expressing confidence that a transparent primary would reflect the true wishes of party members.

The aspirant dismissed suggestions that President Bola Tinubu supports the reported consensus arrangement, insisting that due process has not been followed.

He further claimed that no formal meeting involving all aspirants had been held to agree on consensus, noting that such a decision would require collective participation.

Ajose said: “We understand what consensus means. Consensus says that every aspirant who has picked the party and nomination form must consent to it. We don’t know why Hamzat is scared of going into the primaries. If you have popularity, networks and grassroots support, then let’s go into the primaries. Everybody must go into the primaries; that is what the constitution says.”

He added that the outcome of the primaries would reveal the true choice of party members, insisting that attempts to impose a candidate would not stand.