A young boy identified as Umar from Magami town in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State has vowed to avenge the killing of his biological father by terrorists suspected to be bandits, saying he intends to join the Nigerian Army when he grows up.
In an emotional video seen by SaharaReporters, the boy, who spoke in the Hausa, recounted how he witnessed the brutal killing of his father and declared that the traumatic experience inspired his ambition to become a soldier.
During the interview, Umar was first asked about his hometown.
When asked, “Where are you originally from? Which town?” the young boy replied, “Magami.”
Asked to be more specific about where in Magami he lived, Umar said, “Elota.”
When the interviewer sought clarification, asking whether Elota was part of Magami, Umar explained that it was a village.
The conversation then turned to the circumstances surrounding his father’s death.
According to Umar, witnessing the killing firsthand changed his life forever.
“I watched them kill my father. So I picked up machete, God willing,” he said.
The interviewer responded, “You watched them kill your father, and then you picked up his machete?”
“Yes. May God let my wish come through, may God spare my life,” Umar replied.
The interviewer answered, “Amen. I’m also supporting you. That’s why we’re standing together.”
So, how was your father killed?”
Narrating the incident, Umar said his father had returned home after harvesting seven baskets of red peppers (tatase).
“He came back after harvesting seven baskets of peppers (tatase). He went to the market and bought food stuff. He also bought rice for us and came home,” Umar recalled.
This young boy from Magami town in Gusau LGA, Zamfara State, says he wants to join the Nigerian Army when he grows up—not for fame or fortune, but to avenge his father, a hardworking farmer who was brutally murdered by bandits right before his eyes pic.twitter.com/AsYas6kqox
— Azlannnn (@Shaibu_AO) June 23, 2026
According to him, his father wanted the family to enjoy a meal together after returning from the market.
“His intention was, ‘Let’s cook rice.’ Then he went to dig up some pepper from the farm so we could cook soup. Man proposes, but God disposes. As he was coming back, he never made it. They killed him,” the boy said.
He further recounted the horror that followed.
“They forced their way into the house, and before my eyes, they attacked everyone. They attacked him,” Umar said, referring to his father.
Asked whether the tragedy was the reason he wanted to become a soldier, Umar answered in the affirmative.
“So now, what is your ambition? Is it because of what happened that you want to join the army?” the interviewer asked.
“Yes,” Umar replied.
“What do you want to do? Didn’t you say you want to become a soldier?”
“I have the intention of taking revenge,” the boy said.
The interviewer then responded, “So you want revenge? May God grant you success.”
“So you want to become a soldier in order to take revenge? God willing, you will not seek revenge for your father alone, but also for the others who were killed,” the interviewer said.
Responding, Umar said, “I say that whoever dies, may God have mercy on them. God does not abandon anyone. We are still here. May God also have mercy on my father. God does not abandon anyone. We are still here.”
Zamfara State has remained one of the states most affected by armed banditry in Nigeria’s North-West, with repeated attacks on communities resulting in killings, kidnappings, displacement of residents and the destruction of livelihoods.
(SaharaReporters)