A festive New Year's celebration in Akwa Ibom State turned into a scene of profound grief after a Nigerian soldier allegedly shot and killed a 13-year-old boy. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, 1st January 2026, has thrown the Ukpum Ete community in Ikot Abasi into mourning and ignited fresh outrage over the conduct of security personnel.
Details of the New Year's Day Shooting
The victim has been identified as Timothy Daniel, a junior secondary school student. He was returning home with his 15-year-old sister, Miracle, and other congregants from a crossover service at the Mount Zion Full Gospel Church located along Akongntekong Road in Ete.
The church premises share a boundary with the residence of the late former clan head, HRH Barr. Clement Idemudo. This compound is currently occupied by Chinese expatriates and is guarded by soldiers attached to Sterling Petrochemical and Fertilizer Limited.
According to an eyewitness account provided by Mr. Anthony Akpan, the tragic sequence of events began when Miracle briefly crossed the road. A soldier on duty allegedly followed her and made inappropriate advances, touching her. When she protested and cursed him, the soldier became angry and issued threats.
Confrontation and Fatal Gunshot
Hearing his sister's cries, Timothy, who had been waiting on the opposite side of the road, intervened. The teenager confronted the soldier about the harassment, leading to a heated argument. In a moment of rage, the soldier is alleged to have fired his rifle.
The bullet struck the 13-year-old boy, who collapsed and died instantly at the scene. The sound of gunfire shattered the early morning calm, causing panic among the returning worshippers who fled in terror.
The chaos that followed also led to property damage. A BMW vehicle belonging to Mr. Obong Uyai Udoiwod, a former political adviser to the Ikot Abasi Local Government chairman, was damaged after he drove into the area during the crisis.
Community Outcry and Army Response
The socio-cultural organization of the area, Mboho Ukpum Ete, has issued a strong condemnation of the killing. In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Engr. Patrick Udoma, the group described the soldier's act as "unacceptable" and demanded immediate justice.
"The President General of Mboho Ukpum Ete expresses deep dissatisfaction over the unprofessional conduct of the army personnel attached to Sterling Petrochemical," the statement read. "This act has thrown the entire clan into mourning and we insist that the perpetrator be identified and punished in accordance with the law."
When contacted for comment, the Army Public Relations Officer for the 2 Brigade in Mbiokporo, Captain Lawal Bala Mohamed, confirmed the incident. He stated that the matter has been taken over by the Military Police and is currently under investigation.
Captain Mohamed assured the public that the Nigerian Army does not condone misconduct by its personnel and promised that justice would be served following the conclusion of the investigation.
The tragic death of Timothy Daniel has reignited a national debate about the rules of engagement and accountability for armed security personnel, especially those deployed to guard private facilities across Nigeria.
