On January 1, 2026, junior secondary student Timothy Daniel from Port Harcourt was shot in the head and killed along Akongntekong Road in Ukpum Ete, Ikot Abasi, after attending a crossover service at Mount Zion Full Gospel Church.
According to Inibehe Effiong, a human rights lawyer who is seeking for justice, revealed that the deceased sister had reached out to him, detailed the incidence in a post on X on Tuesday January 6.
His post read: “JUSTICE FOR 13-YEAR OLD MASTER TIMOTHY DANIEL MONDAY MURDERED ON NEW YEAR’S DAY BY A SOLDIER ATTACHED TO STERLING GLOBAL
“My heart has been heavy since last Friday when the sister of this young boy reached out to me to inform me about the gruesome murder or his brother.
“Master Timothy Daniel Monday, a 13-year old JSS 2 student of Bensona International School, King Jaja Street, Borokiri, Port Harcourt, was murdered by a trigger-happy Army personnel on Thursday, 1st January, 2026.
“The sister, Miss Miracle Daniel Monday, who is an eye witness to the tragedy, informed me that she and her family members attended a Cross Over Service at Mount Zion Church, Ette, in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
“During the course of the service, Miracle stepped out with her siblings to urinate and were accosted by soldiers deployed to protect Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Ltd. (popularly known as Sterling Global), a major Nigerian indigenous oil & gas firm involved in exploration and production (E&P).
“According to Miracle, she told the soldiers to hold on for her to finish urinating, but her innocuous comment infuriated one of the soldiers who felt challenged.
“The soldier then pushed her to the ground.
“When she asked him why he pushed her, the soldier became more infuriated and then slapped her, and also assaulted her sister.
“Another soldier later intervened, apologized to the two sisters and asked them to leave.
“As they were leaving, they heard gunshots.
“It turn out that the same soldier who had assaulted them had opened fire and killed Master Timothy instantly. The photos shared with me are too graphic for me to share. His brain was completely shattered.
“The family reported the case to the Nigerian Army Cantonment 6 Battalion Wellington Basi Barracks, Ibagwa, Abak Local Government Area.
“The case was also reported to the police.
“I called Miracle this morning, she confirmed to me that till this moment, Sterling Global has not deemed it fit to contact or visit the grieving family.
“I am calling on the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff, the General Officer Commanding (G.O.C.) of the 6 Battalion, Ibagwa, and the Akwa Ibom State Government to swiftly intervene in this case, ensure that the culprit is court-martialed for murder, and the family adequately compensated.
“The nonchalant attitude of Sterling Global to this case, like in many other cases, is despicable and unacceptable.
“No Nigerian should be killed in this manner by those who are supposed to protect them. The pain that this family has been subjected to is unimaginable. They live in Port Harcourt, and only went home for the holidays.
“Section 33 of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees the right to life. No one should be deprived of this scared right, except in strict compliance with the manner set by the Constitution.” The post read
The Nigerian Army has launched a military police investigation, with spokesman Captain Lawal Mohamed promising justice, amid community outrage and calls for the soldier’s punishment.
