Nigerian Human Rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has called out the leadership of the Nigerian Army over alleged murder of 13-year-old boy Timothy Monday, by a trigger-happy soldier on new year day.
Inibehe made the call in a statement issued on his official X handle on Tuesday.
According to the lawyer, Monday, a JSS2 student, was allegedly shot dead by the army personnel in Akwa-Ibom state.
Inibehe recounted how a sister of the deceased, Miracle Monday, had sent him a graphic picture of the 13-year-old who reportedly dropped dead after being shot in the head at close range.
The sister, according to Inibehe, narrated how she had alongside the deceased and her other siblings stepped out of the church during cross over service, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa-Ibom state, to urinate.
They were reportedly accosted by soldiers deployed to protect Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Ltd.
“Master Timothy Daniel Monday, a 13-year-old JSS 2 student of Bensona International School, King Jaja Street, Borokiri, Port Harcourt, was murdered by a trigger-happy Army personnel on Thursday, 1st January, 2026.
“The sister, Miss Miracle Daniel Monday, who is an eyewitness to the tragedy, informed me that she and her family members attended a Cross Over Service at Mount Zion Church, Ette, in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
“During the course of the service, Miracle stepped out with her siblings to urinate and were accosted by soldiers deployed to protect Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Ltd. (popularly known as Sterling Global), a major Nigerian indigenous oil & gas firm involved in exploration and production (E&P).
“According to Miracle, she told the soldiers to hold on for her to finish urinating, but her innocuous comment infuriated one of the soldiers who felt challenged.
“The soldier then pushed her to the ground. When she asked him why he pushed her, the soldier became more infuriated and then slapped her and also assaulted her sister.
“Another soldier later intervened, apologized to the two sisters and asked them to leave. As they were leaving, they heard gunshots.
“It turns out that the same soldier who had assaulted them had opened fire and killed Master Timothy instantly. The photos shared with me are too graphic for me to share. His brain was completely shattered.” Inibehe wrote.
While the family had reported the case to the Nigerian Army Cantonment 6 Battalion Wellington Basi Barracks, Ibagwa, Abak LGA in Akwa-Ibom as well as the police, the lawyer disclosed that no effort has been made by Sterling Global contact the family of the deceased.
Inibehe called on the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff, the General Officer Commanding (G.O.C.) of the 6 Battalion, Ibagwa, and the Akwa Ibom State Government to swiftly intervene in the case.
“The case was also reported to the police. I called Miracle this morning, she confirmed to me that till this moment, Sterling Global has not deemed it fit to contact or visit the grieving family.
“I am calling on the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff, the General Officer Commanding (G.O.C.) of the 6 Battalion, Ibagwa, and the Akwa Ibom State Government to swiftly intervene in this case, ensure that the culprit is court-martialed for murder, and the family adequately compensated.
“The nonchalant attitude of Sterling Global to this case, like in many other cases, is despicable and unacceptable. No Nigerian should be killed in this manner by those who are supposed to protect them.
“The pain that this family has been subjected to is unimaginable.
“They live in Port Harcourt and only went home for the holidays. Section 33 of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees the right to life.
“No one should be deprived of this scared right, except in strict compliance with the manner set by the Constitution.” He said.
