A fruit vendor identified as Abdulkadir Musa, was shot dead by a soldier in Gusau, the Zamfara state capital, after he refused to allow the suspect leave without paying for a bunch of banana.
The incident which happened along Aebasu Road, Gusau Bypass, on Sunday, May 9, was said to have led to protest by angry youths, who blocked roads and burnt tyres.
Narrating how the incident happened, the father of the deceased, Alhaji Mustafa Musa, told PUNCH that two soldiers went to his son’s fruits stand and bought a bunch of bananas.
According to him, the soldiers paid for the bunch and tried to collect another one for free and this led to a squabble.
“They bought a bunch bananas for N300 and instead of them to take the one they paid for, they also took another one and wanted to go with it, but my son did not allow them to do so,” he narrated.
“When they insisted that they must go with the bunch of bananas, the fruit vendor rushed to the police station, which was very close to the scene of the incident, and reported the case and the two soldiers were arrested, but they were released shortly after.”
Mustafa said that after the soldiers were released, one of them went home, fetched a gun and returned to the scene and shot the fruit vendor.
The grieving father said that he reported the issue to all relevant authorities, including the Human Rights Commission, so that action could be taken against the soldier, who killed his son.
“I have reported the case to the concerned authorities and I will not rest until the soldier is punished to serve as a deterrent to others,” Mustafa added.
Spokesperson of the State Police Command, SP Mohammed Shehu, who confirmed the incident, said they are investigating the issue.
