Army refutes Gombe recruit died at Zaria training depot

The Nigerian Army has denied reports claiming that one Ibrahim Nazifi, a recruit from Gombe State, died during military training at the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria.

The denial comes amid an earlier statement by the Gombe State Government announcing the death of the recruit

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Depot NA Zaria, Captain Chikadibia Viola Anele, said the attention of the Depot had been drawn to reports alleging that Nazifi, an indigene of Gombe State with application number 90RRI-GO-9017726, died during training.

The statement described the reports as incorrect: “We wish to categorically state that this information is false and falls short of the record.”

According to the statement, available records at Depot NA Zaria show that Nazifi successfully passed the State Recruitment Screening Exercise conducted in December 2025 and was subsequently shortlisted for training at the Depot.

However, the Army clarified that the recruit never reported to Zaria for the commencement of training.

“He never reported to the Depot for commencement of his training, and at no point was he admitted into the training programme.

Consequently, the Depot has no record of his presence, participation, injury or death during training,” the statement said.

The Army, therefore, urged the Gombe State Government and other relevant authorities to establish the actual circumstances surrounding 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 added.

The statement further explained that military training is naturally demanding, as it is designed to build endurance, resilience and combat readiness in prospective soldiers, especially in view of evolving security challenges.

It noted, however, that the demanding nature of training does not amount to negligence.

“While training environments can be demanding and, in rare cases, result in casualties, this does not imply negligence.

“ On the contrary, robust safety measures, medical coverage and risk-mitigation procedures are firmly in place to ensure maximum protection of trainees and to minimise injuries,” the Army said.

The Nigerian Army also cautioned members of the public against circulating unverified information capable of misleading the public or damaging the institution’s image.

“Members of the public are therefore urged to disregard the reports and avoid the spread of unverified information capable of misleading the public and tarnishing the image of the Nigerian Army,” the statement said.

It reaffirmed that Depot NA Zaria remains fully committed to professionalism, transparency and the welfare of all recruits undergoing training to serve the nation honourably.

The clarification comes after Gombe State’s Senior Special Assistant on Security Matters, Ambassador Yusuf Danbayo, announced on Thursday the death of Nazifi during training at the Depot. Danbayo described him as “one of our promising recruits undergoing training at the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria,” and extended condolences to the family and people of Akko Local Government Area.

culled from punch