January 7, 2026 l Dalena Reporters
ABUJA — A prominent Nigerian human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has called for swift justice and accountability following the alleged killing of a 13-year-old boy, Master Timothy Daniel Monday, by a soldier in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2026. The tragic incident has sparked outrage from legal activists, community members, and rights organisations demanding that the accused soldier be court-martialled and charged with murder.
According to statements by Effiong, who detailed the case on social media and has been in direct contact with the victim’s family, the teenager was shot dead after an alleged confrontation with a soldier attached to Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Ltd (Sterling Global) a major indigenous oil and gas firm while the boy and his family were returning from a cross-over church service at Mount Zion Full Gospel Church in Ette, Ikot Abasi LGA.
Effiong said that the victim’s 15-year-old sister, Miracle Daniel Monday, informed him that the family had stepped outside the church during the night service when they encountered the soldiers deployed to guard Sterling Global’s facilities. An initial verbal exchange reportedly escalated after a soldier became angered over a minor comment, allegedly pushing and assaulting the teen’s sister before later opening fire at the group as they walked away, fatally striking Master Timothy.
The human rights lawyer described the evidence shared with him by the family as “too graphic” to post publicly, noting the severe injury the boy sustained. He said the matter was promptly reported to both the Nigerian Army 6 Battalion, Wellington Basi Barracks in Ibagwa and the police in Akwa Ibom State, with military police units taking over the investigation.
Effiong condemned the “nonchalant attitude” of Sterling Global, which has yet to make any contact with the bereaved family as of early January, adding that the company’s lack of outreach reflects a troubling disregard for the victim and his loved ones. He called on key authorities including the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff, the General Officer Commanding the 6 Battalion, and the Akwa Ibom State Government to intervene and ensure that the soldier responsible is held accountable under the law and that the family receives appropriate compensation.
In his demand for justice, Effiong stressed that the right to life, enshrined in Section 33 of the Nigerian Constitution, must be upheld and that no Nigerian should be killed in such a manner by security personnel entrusted with protecting citizens. He urged that the investigation be transparent and that the accused be court-martialled rather than allowed to evade repercussions.
The case has drawn widespread condemnation from civil society groups and community stakeholders, highlighting ongoing concerns over military conduct, impunity, and the protection of civilians in areas where security forces are deployed for private and corporate protection duties. Authorities have acknowledged the military police investigation, but the victim’s family and rights advocates continue to press for justice as the tragedy reverberates across national discourse on accountability and human rights.