The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has issued a strong condemnation of the Nigerian Army following the fatal stabbing of a civilian in Warri, Delta State. The rights group is demanding an immediate and independent investigation into the incident, rejecting the Army's internal justification of the soldier's actions.
Army's Defence of Soldier Triggers Outrage
In a statement released on Saturday, December 20, 2025, and signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA responded with alarm to the Army's defence of Lance Corporal Sefiu Ibrahim. The soldier is linked to the death of Ugochukwu Oghenekaro Bonny, which occurred on October 12, 2025, at the gate of a private estate in Warri.
The association accused the military of attempting to justify what it termed unlawful bloodshed, an action it says deepens existing concerns about accountability in civil-military relations. HURIWA described the Army's official response as one that trivialises the sanctity of civilian life and raises fundamental questions about the rules guiding military conduct in non-combat environments.
Dangerous Trend of Militarising Civilian Spaces
A key point of contention for HURIWA is the very presence of a trained soldier acting as a security guard for a private residence. The group demanded to know under what constitutional or operational framework such an arrangement is permitted, calling it a reflection of a worrying pattern.
“The creeping militarisation of civilian spaces is breeding impunity and avoidable loss of life,” the association warned. It stressed that this trend represents a dangerous expansion of the military's role into everyday civilian life, setting a precarious precedent.
According to the rights organisation, the circumstances of Bonny's death remain deeply troubling. Reports indicate the deceased was visiting a friend when an argument at the estate gate escalated violently. “It is unconscionable that a soldier allegedly drew a jack-knife and stabbed a civilian to death at close range, yet the Army now seeks to cloak the incident with the language of self-defence,” HURIWA stated.
A Call for Justice and Accountability
HURIWA expressed strong scepticism about the integrity of internal military investigations, especially when conducted away from public scrutiny. It argued that such opaque processes only reinforce a public perception that the military acts as “judge and jury” in cases involving the death of civilians, thereby eroding trust.
In a significant development, the group disclosed that it has facilitated contact between the bereaved family of Ugochukwu Oghenekaro Bonny and prominent human rights lawyer Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), who has shown readiness to pursue the case legally.
HURIWA clarified that its stance is not born of hostility towards the armed forces but is rooted in a firm commitment to the rule of law and constitutional order. “A military perceived as excusing civilian deaths under contested claims of self-defence risks losing moral authority and public trust,” the group asserted.
It concluded by emphasising that securing justice for Bonny will serve as a defining test of the Nigerian Army's adherence to constitutional restraint and its respect for the lives of the citizens it is sworn to protect.
