Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — The Depot Nigerian Army (NA), Zaria, has formally refuted online and media reports claiming that a recruit identified as Ibrahim Nazifi, purportedly with application number 90RRI-GO-9017726 and described as an indigene of Gombe State, died during military training at its facility. In a statement issued on 23 January 2026, Army officials labelled the allegations as false and unsubstantiated, asserting there is no record of Nazifi ever reporting for or participating in training at the Depot.
The clarification, signed by Captain Chikadibia Viola Anele, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations at Depot NA Zaria, stressed that available records confirm Nazifi successfully passed the State Recruitment Screening Exercise held in December 2025 and was subsequently shortlisted for training. However, according to the Army, he never presented himself at the Depot to commence training, and the institution has no documentation whatsoever of his attendance, admission, injury or death within its ranks.
“As such, the Depot has no record of his presence, participation, injury or death during training,” the statement emphasised, urging the Gombe State Government and relevant authorities to carry out an independent investigation to establish where, when and under what circumstances Nazifi may have died, since no such incident took place at Depot NA Zaria.
The Army also took the opportunity to reaffirm that while military training is inherently demanding — designed to build endurance, resilience and combat readiness — robust safety protocols, medical support systems and risk-mitigation measures are in place to protect recruits throughout their training cycles. The statement noted that fatalities during training, though rare, do not necessarily indicate institutional negligence, but that in this particular instance, no fatality has occurred at the Depot involving the individual in question.
The Nigerian Army’s response reflects growing concerns within the defence establishment and among public officials over the spread of unverified information, which authorities say can mislead the public and harm the reputation of security institutions. In urging citizens and the media to disregard the earlier reports, the Army’s communication also reiterated its commitment to professionalism, transparency and the welfare of all its recruits as they prepare to serve the nation.
The clarification arrives amid ongoing national debates about military recruitment, training conditions and the welfare of recruits, especially as the armed forces intensify efforts to build capacity in response to evolving security challenges across Nigeria. In recent years, social media and news platforms have occasionally circulated conflicting or inaccurate accounts regarding incidents involving service personnel, prompting security agencies to issue periodic corrections or clarifications.
Stakeholders say such issued statements are crucial for maintaining public trust in national security institutions and for ensuring that families and communities receive accurate information in cases involving recruits and serving members of the armed forces.
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