Army denies recruit’s death at Zaria depot

The Nigerian Army has dismissed claims that Ibrahim Nazifi, a recruit from Gombe State, died during training at the Army Depot in Zaria.

Captain Chikadibia Viola Anele, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations at the Depot, said: “We wish to categorically state that this information is false and falls short of the record.”

Records show that Nazifi passed the December 2025 recruitment screening and was shortlisted for training. However, he “never reported to the Depot for commencement of his training, and at no point was he admitted into the training programme,” the statement added.

The Army urged the Gombe State Government to investigate the reported death. “Depot NA Zaria urges the Gombe State Government and relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain where, when and under what circumstances the purported deceased died, as such an incident did not occur within the Depot NA Zaria,” Anele said.

Addressing safety concerns, the Army clarified: “While training environments can be demanding and, in rare cases, result in casualties, this does not imply negligence. Robust safety measures, medical coverage and risk-mitigation procedures are firmly in place.”

The Army also warned the public against spreading unverified reports, which could “mislead the public and tarnish the image of the Nigerian Army.”