by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A youth was allegedly hit and killed by a stray bullet in Zaria on Tuesday when security operatives engaged protesters suspected to be hoodlums in the Samaru community.
The hoodlums reportedly defied the curfew imposed on the ancient city of Zaria area of Kaduna State.
Eyewitness sources from Zaria told journalists that the window created for the inhabitants of Samaru to mingle and visit close markets within the community, despite the curfew, was capitalized upon by the hoodlums, who regrouped and decided to confuse the area.
Security operatives and soldiers were immediately mobilized to the area, on arrival which they clamped down on the hoodlums.
“There were gunshots. People ran in all directions and everything came to a stop. The hoodlums ran away as they were overpowered by the superior firepower of the security operatives.
“Sadly, bullets penetrated the door of one house in the area and killed a boy. I believe he should have been buried by now,” the source said.
Normalcy has since returned to the Samaru community with a reinforcement of security agents and soldiers. Other parts of Zaria were quiet and peaceful, as only little children were sighted playing football in empty streets.
Contacted, the spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Mansir Hassan, could not respond until press time of filling these reports.