Army denies death of Gombe recruit during training 

The Nigerian Army has denied reports claiming that Ibrahim Nazifi, a recruit from Gombe State, died during military training at the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria, describing the information as false and unsupported by official records.

The denial follows an earlier announcement by the Gombe State Government that Nazifi had died while undergoing training at the depot, a claim that has since generated public concern.

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

“We wish to categorically state that this information is false and falls short of the record,” Army said.

According to the statement, official records at the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria, confirm 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, called on 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,” the statement added.

The Nigerian Army acknowledged that training is naturally demanding, as it is designed to build endurance, resilience and combat readiness in prospective soldiers, particularly in the face of evolving security challenges.

It stressed, however, that the demanding nature of training does not equate 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 statement noted.

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

“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,” it said.

The statement reaffirmed that Depot NA Zaria remains fully committed to professionalism, transparency and the welfare of all recruits undergoing training in service to the nation.

The clarification comes after  Yusuf Danbayo,  Gombe State’s Senior Special Assistant on Security Matters,  announced on Thursday the death of Nazifi, whom he described as “one of our promising recruits undergoing training at the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria.”

Danbayo also extended condolences to the family of the deceased and the people of Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State.

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