The Nigerian Army has dismissed media reports alleging that a recruit, Ibrahim Nazifi from Gombe State, died during military training at the Nigerian Army (NA), Zaria, describing the claims as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on January 23, 2026, 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 claiming that Nazifi, with application number 90RRI-GO-9017726, lost his life while undergoing training.
Captain Anele explained that available records at Depot NA Zaria show that Ibrahim Nazifi successfully passed the State Recruitment Screening Exercise conducted in December 2025 and was subsequently shortlisted for training. However, she clarified that the individual never reported to the Depot for the commencement of training and was never admitted into the training programme.
“At no point was he present at the Depot, participated in training, sustained any injury, or died during training at Depot NA Zaria,” the statement said.
The Army, therefore, urged the Gombe State Government and relevant authorities to carry out a thorough investigation to determine where, when, and under what circumstances the purported deceased died, stressing that no such incident occurred within the Depot NA Zaria.
The statement further acknowledged that military training is rigorous and deliberately designed to build endurance, resilience, and combat readiness in prospective soldiers, particularly in response to evolving security challenges.
While noting that training environments can be demanding and, in rare cases, result in casualties, the Army emphasised that this does not amount to negligence.
According to the statement, robust safety measures, medical coverage, and risk-mitigation procedures are firmly in place to ensure the protection and welfare of trainees and to minimise injuries.
The Nigerian Army called on members of the public to disregard the reports and avoid spreading unverified information capable of misleading the public and tarnishing the image of the institution.
Depot NA Zaria reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, transparency, and the welfare of all recruits undergoing training in the service of the nation.
