Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The joy of the 2026 New Year celebrations in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria was shattered in the early hours of Thursday, January 1, when Master Timothy Daniel Monday, a 13‑year‑old student of Bensona International School, Borokiri, Port Harcourt, was allegedly shot dead by a soldier attached to a military detachment. The incident has ignited widespread outrage, with community members, social justice advocates and legal professionals calling for a transparent investigation and decisive accountability.
According to eyewitness accounts and family testimony, the tragedy occurred around 12:05 a.m. along Akongntekong Road, Ete community, shortly after Master Timothy and his 15‑year‑old sister, Miss Miracle Daniel Monday, attended a crossover service at Mount Zion Full Gospel Church with other family members.
As the congregation dispersed following the service, Miracle stepped aside with her siblings to use nearby facilities. It was during this brief pause that a soldier on duty — reportedly deployed to guard the residential facilities of Sterling Petrochemical and Fertiliser Company Ltd. and associated expatriate housing in the area — approached the young girl. Witnesses allege the soldier made inappropriate physical contact with Miracle and reacted angrily when she resisted and spoke back, pushing her to the ground and assaulting another sister.
Another soldier reportedly intervened at that point, apologised, and encouraged the family to leave. As Master Timothy and his siblings began to walk away, gunshots rang out. Residents say the same soldier who had confronted Miracle then raised his rifle and fired at the unarmed boy, striking him in the head. Timothy collapsed instantly, bleeding profusely, and died at the scene.
The shooting sparked immediate shock and anger across the community. Panic spread among local residents and New Year crowds, some of whom fled in fear as the sound of gunfire echoed through the streets. In the aftermath, a vehicle belonging to a former political adviser to the Ikot Abasi Local Government Chairman was damaged amid the chaos, underscoring the intensity of the emotional response from the community.
The family promptly reported the killing to the Nigerian Army Cantonment 6 Battalion, Wellington Basi Barracks in Ibagwa, and also lodged a complaint with the Nigerian Police. Despite these steps, Miss Miracle has publicly expressed frustration over the lack of contact from Sterling Global, whose security the soldier was ostensibly assigned to protect. At the time of reporting, the company had not reached out to the bereaved family.
In response to the incident, the Nigerian Army has confirmed that a formal investigation has been launched. Military officials, speaking through the Army Public Relations Office, stated that the Military Police has taken over the case and is conducting inquiries, and that due process will be followed. The Army’s acknowledgment marks a rare official engagement in a situation where military personnel are accused of unlawful civilian killings.
Civil society and human rights groups have strongly condemned the killing and criticised both state authorities and Sterling Global for their perceived silence and lack of engagement with the family. The Niger Delta Peace Coalition publicly rebuked Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno and the Ikot Abasi Local Government leadership for failing to address the tragedy or demand accountability. Advocates have reiterated calls for the soldier involved to be court‑martialed and for justice to be served swiftly and transparently.
The outcry in Ikot Abasi echoes broader national concerns about the conduct of military personnel and the deployment of soldiers for internal security roles, particularly in and around private industrial facilities. Human rights observers have long elevated scrutiny over the use of armed forces in community protection, highlighting that such arrangements can blur lines of command and accountability, and may expose civilians to undue risk, especially in tense interactions.
For the Daniel family, the loss continues to resonate deeply. Their grief reflects not only the sudden and violent death of a beloved child but also the broader emotional and psychological toll such incidents exact on families and communities. They were visiting their home state during the holiday season — a time normally associated with celebration and family reunification — when their lives were irrevocably transformed by violence.
Legal experts stressing constitutional rights have pointed to Section 33 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life, highlighting that deadly force must only be used within strict legal boundaries. Civil liberties organizations argue that allegations of excessive force, particularly involving minors, must be subject to thorough, independent judicial scrutiny to maintain public confidence in both military and civil institutions.
Critics also argue that the continued reliance on military personnel to guard private facilities without comprehensive oversight mechanisms creates recurrent flashpoints between armed security forces and civilians. Calls for reform in how companies outsource security and how the military integrates with civilian communities have intensified in recent years, with advocates urging enhanced training, clear rules of engagement, and accountability frameworks that align military conduct with international human rights standards.
As investigations proceed, stakeholders from government, civil society, and international human rights bodies are expected to watch closely for signals of accountability and justice. There is broad consensus that transparency in handling this case will be imperative not only for the Daniel family’s sense of closure but also to reaffirm the rule of law in Nigeria’s democratic fabric.
For now, the community in Ukpum Ete remains in mourning, grappling with the sudden loss of a promising young student and the lingering questions surrounding his death. Calls for justice continue to resonate, with many Nigerians and observers urging a definitive response that honours both the memory of Master Timothy Daniel Monday and the principles of lawful governance.
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