The Nigerian Army has officially debunked viral reports alleging that a Gombe State indigene, Ibrahim Nazifi, died during military training at the Depot Nigerian Army (NA) in Zaria.
Describing the claims as false, misleading, and an attempt to damage the image of the military, the Army clarified that while Nazifi was indeed shortlisted for training, he never showed up at the facility.
In a press statement issued on Saturday by the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Depot NA Zaria, Captain Chikadibia Viola Anele, the military provided a breakdown of the recruit’s records to set the record straight.
According to the statement, which was also shared via the Defence Headquarters’ official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Nazifi successfully passed the State Recruitment Screening Exercise in December 2025. Following this, he was shortlisted to begin his professional training in Zaria.
“However, available records show that Ibrahim Nazifi never reported to the Depot for the commencement of his training, and at no point was he admitted into the training programme,” the statement read.
Captain Anele emphasized that because Nazifi was never physically present at the Depot, there is no record of his participation, any injury sustained, or his death within the facility.
Call for Investigation
In light of the reports, the Nigerian Army has called on the Gombe State Government and relevant security agencies to launch an investigation into the matter. The Army urged authorities to determine the actual circumstances of Nazifi’s passing, specifically “where, when, and under what circumstances” he died, given that the incident did not occur under military watch.
Rigorous but Safe Training
Addressing concerns regarding the nature of military drills, the Army acknowledged that training is “deliberately designed to build endurance, resilience, and combat readiness.” However, it maintained that these demanding conditions are supported by high-level safety protocols.
“While casualties may occur in rare cases, robust safety measures, medical coverage, and risk-mitigation procedures are firmly in place to ensure maximum protection of trainees,” the statement added.
The Army concluded by advising the public to disregard the “fake news” and cautioned against the spread of unverified information that could cause unnecessary panic or harm the reputation of the nation’s armed forces.
