The Nigerian Army has launched an official investigation into the killing of a 13-year-old boy by a soldier attached to Sterling Petrochemical and Fertiliser Limited in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, an incident that has sparked anger and condemnation among local residents and community leaders.
The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of January 1, 2026, when the boy, identified as Timothy Daniel, was shot dead after what witnesses described as a confrontation between him, his sister and the soldier. According to an eyewitness, Anthony Akpan, Timothy and his 15-year-old sister, Miracle Daniel, were returning from Mount Zion Full Gospel Church along Akongntekong Road in the Ete community around 12:05 a.m. when the encounter unfolded.
Akpan told journalists in Uyo that the soldier began following the siblings and made inappropriate advances toward Miracle. When she rebuffed him, he allegedly persisted and touched her inappropriately, prompting her to verbally rebuke him. The boy, who had been waiting across the road, then joined the exchange and began cursing the soldier. “He immediately corked his rifle and shot the boy in the head, leaving him in a pool of his own blood,” Akpan said, describing a scene that stunned those present.
“Miracle Daniel (15) and Timothy Daniel (13) were returning from church with others. As Miracle crossed the road to urinate, the soldier, who was near the residence of the former clan head…followed her and made advances,” Akpan explained, adding that the soldier became angry after being rejected and then targeted the boy when tensions escalated.
The killing has provoked outrage in the Ukpum Ete community, with local leaders demanding a thorough investigation and justice for the slain teenager. Patrick Udoma, Publicity Secretary of Mboho Ukpum Ete, a sociopolitical group representing the area, strongly condemned the actions of the soldier, characterising them as extreme and unprofessional.
“We express our dissatisfaction over the unprofessional manner in which the army personnel unleashed mayhem on the citizens of Ukpum Ete in the murder of our citizen in the early hours of January 1, 2026 … This act is perceived as terrorism and unacceptable by the people of Ukpum Ete clan,” Udoma said, demanding that appropriate punishment be meted out to the accused serviceman.
In addition to the shooting, the crisis reportedly resulted in property damage, including to a BMW belonging to Obong Uyai Udoiwod, a former political adviser in Ikot Abasi, who arrived at the scene amidst the chaos.
When contacted, Captain Lawal Mohamed, the Army Public Relations Officer for 2 Brigade, Mbiokporo, confirmed that the matter has been turned over to the military police and is currently under investigation.
“The incident has been handled by the military police and is already under investigation,” Captain Mohamed said, without providing further details on the status of the probe or any disciplinary measures pending against the soldier involved.
Authorities have not yet disclosed whether the soldier has been detained or charged, but local groups and residents are calling for transparency and accountability as the inquiry progresses.
