However, a source acquainted with the situation told SaharaReporters that Abdulrauf survived the attack and is now being treated at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna.

A Nigerian soldier named Muhammad Abdulrauf, also known as “Didan Tero,” is fighting for his life after being mistaken for a bandit and severely mauled by a mob in the Mai Gero neighbourhood of Kaduna State.

The soldier, a member of the Nigerian Army’s 21NA intake and locally known among the Jaji military community as a “Barrack Boy,” was initially reported dead following the event, with multiple social media posts and local reports confirming his death.

However, a source acquainted with the situation told SaharaReporters that Abdulrauf survived the attack and is now being treated at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna.

SaharaReporters also got frightening videos of the soldier being thrashed by a crowd, as well as footage taken on Thursday morning of him lying in a hospital bed in critical condition.

According to the source, people allegedly attacked the soldier because they mistook him for a member of a known bandit gang that has terrorised the local towns.

“The residents thought he was a bandit because of the way he dressed. So they said he was among the people who recently kidnapped people in the community,” the source said.

The source explained that anxiety and stress in the area could have contributed to the mob activity.

“If you can remember, there is a popular bandit in Kaduna terrorising the area. His name is Dogo. The bandit was captured by us last year and the news went viral. But this new tragic incident happened on Wednesday,” the source added.