• As Activist Urges Defense Minister, Army, Eno To Ensure Justice
• Victim’s Sister Narrates Ordeal

By Egufe Yafugborhi

UYO – SOCIAL justice advocacy group, the Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC) has chided Governor Umo Eno and Ikot Abasi Local Government Chairman for maintaining silence one week after a military guard securing expatraits for a firm in Akwa Ibom state shot dead 13 year old Timothy Daniel Monday in Ette.

The group’s disappointment in the governor comes as lawyer and rights activist, Inebehe Effiong challenges the Minister of Defense, Chief of Army Staff and Governor Eno to ensure that the culprit is court martialed for murder.

Nigeria Army on Monday confirmed confirmed investigation into New Year Day killing of 13 year old Timothy by one among military guards at Sterling Petrochemical and Fertilizer company’s Chinese staff quarters, Mboho Ukpum Ette, Ikot Abasi LGA of Akwa Ibom.

In new details shared by Effiong, Tuesday, Miracle Monday, elder sister to Timothy, whose brush with the soldier degenerated to the shooting of Timothy, confirmed that till the moment, Sterling Global has not contacted or visited the grieving family.

Deceased’s Sister Recounts Ordeal

According to Effiong, “Master Timothy Daniel Monday, 13-year old JSS 2 student of Bensona International School, Borokiri, Port Harcourt, Rivers state, was murdered by a trigger-happy Army personnel 1st January, 2026.

“The sister, Miss Miracle Daniel Monday, 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 LGA of Akwa Ibom State.

“During the service, Miracle stepped out with 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 intervened, apologized to the two sisters and asked them to leave.

“As they were leaving, they heard gunshots. It turned out same soldier who had assaulted them had opened fire and killed Timothy instantly. The photos shared too graphic for me to share. His brain was 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.”

We’re Disappointed In Gov Eno -NDPC

Reflecting on the development, Zik Gbemre, Coordinator, NDPC, noted, “It’s such a shame that such a tragedy happens and a state’s chief executive who calls self compassionate governor and the LG chairman where the incident occurred are unfeeling, mute, nearly one week after.

“If a civil resident shoots an individual, talk much of a soldier being the assailant in the US, President Donald Trump and the state government would immediately move in to commiserate with the bereaved family and monitor investigations to bring the culprit to book.

“But here in Akwa Ibom, Eno is busy appointing APC Congress Committee and hyping implementation of TSA in Akwa Ibom like it’s the solution to all his leadership flaws.

“But if the innocent 13 year old shot on the head by the depraved soldier were the son of his political associate or godfather, Eno would have visited among first callers to go sign register and share tears.”

“The Ikot Abasi tragedy again goes to show that Eno delights only in a politicised compassion in doing giveaways where his benevolence scores cheap political popularity.

“For Gbemre, “NDPC is happy for beneficiaries of Eno’s random giveaways at the expense of the state’s treasury, but we dare say that genuine compassion should not be only about playing Father Christmas with government money for self glorification.

“There is no reason a depraved soldier engaged as as private guard over expatriates staff of a private firm in Akwa Ibom would, trigger hungry, blow out the brain of unarmed 13 years on the head and a governor would keep mum, unfeeling about the plight of the bereaved family.

“As we heard from the community leaders, this the second youth the community is losing to army brutality in less than two years. It’s the indifference being displayed by the governor that encourages the impunity.”

Justice For Timothy

Effiong is calling, “The Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff, the General Officer Commanding (G.O.C.) 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.”

Gbemre said, “There couldn’t be a better time for Eno to demonstrate his compassion. Timothy didn’t deserve to die at just 13 years old. He wasn’t armed to go fight a trigger happy soldier. He deserves justice, his family deserve support.”