Randy soldier shoots dead 13-year-old boy returning from church in Akwa Ibom

By our Correspondent

A 13-year-old boy, identified as Timothy Daniel, was reportedly shot dead by a soldier while returning from church in the early hours of New Year’s Day in Ette, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The incident occurred around 12:05 a.m. on January 1, 2026, when Timothy was returning from a night prayer service at Mount Zion Full Gospel Church along Akongntekong Road in Ette community with his sister, Miracle. The soldier involved was said to be attached to Sterling Petrochemical and Fertilizer Company Ltd and was on guard duty at the residence of the late former clan head, HRH Barr. Clement Idemudo, where Chinese expatriates of the petrochemical company are reportedly lodged.
An eyewitness, Anthony Akpan, said Miracle had crossed to the other side of the road to urinate when the soldier followed her and allegedly made sexual advances, including touching her buttocks. According to Akpan, the girl ignored him, but the soldier became angry and forcefully continued, threatening her in the process.
Akpan said Timothy, who was waiting nearby, confronted the soldier after rejoining his sister and cursed him for sexually harassing her. As the siblings protested and continued to berate the soldier for touching Miracle, the soldier allegedly cocked his rifle and shot Timothy at close range.
“The bullet blew his head open, and the boy collapsed, struggling in a pool of his blood before dying on the spot, while Miracle managed to escape,” Akpan said.
He added that the soldier ran into the compound and alerted his colleagues, who allegedly helped him move the boy’s corpse into the expatriates’ lodge. Miracle later raised an alarm, drawing residents of the community to the scene.
The incident reportedly sparked outrage in the community, disrupting New Year celebrations. During the chaos, a BMW vehicle belonging to a former Adviser to the Ikot Abasi Council Chairman on Political Matters, Obong Uyai Udoiwod, was allegedly set ablaze as he drove to the area.
Akpan lamented what he described as repeated killings by soldiers guarding the expatriates’ lodge, claiming that two youths had been lost to alleged army brutality in the community within the past two years.
Reacting, the Mboho Ukpum Ette group, through its Publicity Secretary, Engr. Patrick Udoma, condemned the incident, describing it as an act of terrorism by a government agency.
In a statement, the group said the President General of Mboho Ukpum Ette expressed dissatisfaction with what it described as the unprofessional conduct of the soldier hired by Sterling Petrochemical, noting that the killing had thrown the family and the entire clan into mourning.
“This act is perceived as terrorism and is unacceptable to the people of Ukpum Ette clan,” the statement said.
The community demanded justice and called on relevant authorities to ensure that the soldier involved is appropriately punished.
When contacted, the Army Public Relations Officer, 2 Brigade, Mbiokporo, Akwa Ibom State, Captain Lawal Bala Mohamed, confirmed the incident and said it was already being handled.
“The matter has been taken over by the military police and is currently under investigation,” he said. Sun