A pall of grief has enveloped Buba Bani community in Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State following the death of a young Nigerian Army recruit, Ibrahim Nazifi, who reportedly died during training at the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria.

Nazifi, a member of the 90th Regular Recruit Intake (90RRI), was said to have fallen ill during the early phase of the rigorous military training and later passed away, throwing his family, colleagues and community into mourning.

Confirming the incident in a statement, the Senior Special Assistant to the Gombe State Governor on Security Matters and Intergovernmental Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Danbayo, said the state received the news with deep sorrow.

“The Gombe State Government has received with profound sadness the death of our son, Ibrahim Nazifi, who died while undergoing military training in Zaria,” Danbayo said.

He described the deceased as a young Nigerian who answered the call to serve his country and urged the family to find solace in the belief that Nazifi died in pursuit of national service.

The state government, on behalf of Governor Inuwa Yahaya, extended condolences to the immediate family, relatives and the entire people of Akko Local Government Area, praying for strength and fortitude to bear the loss.

“May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings, reward his intention to serve the nation, and grant him eternal rest in Aljannatul Firdaus,” the statement added.

Community in Mourning

Residents of Buba Bani village described the death as devastating, noting that Nazifi’s enlistment into the Nigerian Army had been a source of pride for the community.

“He left home full of hope and determination to build a future through service to the nation,” a community source told NAN. “His death is a painful reminder of the sacrifices young Nigerians make.”

Calls for Enhanced Recruit Welfare

The incident has also renewed public conversation around health monitoring and welfare provisions for recruits undergoing intensive military training.

While military training is widely acknowledged to be physically demanding, stakeholders have repeatedly called for robust medical screening, early illness detection and rapid emergency response at training facilities.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Army had yet to issue an official statement detailing the circumstances surrounding the recruit’s death.