The Nigerian Army has launched an investigation into the death of a 13-year-old boy allegedly shot by a soldier attached to Sterling Petrochemical and Fertiliser Limited in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, an incident that has sparked outrage among residents.

PUNCH Online gathered that the boy, Timothy Daniel, was shot dead, after allegedly confronting the soldier for making sexual advances toward his 15-year-old sister, Miracle Daniel.

An eyewitness, Anthony Akpan, told journalists in Uyo on Monday that Timothy and his sister were returning from Mount Zion Full Gospel Church along Akongntekong Road, Ete community, at about 12:05 a.m. on January 1, 2026, when the incident occurred.

According to Akpan, the soldier followed the siblings and started making advances toward Miracle Daniel. When she rejected him, he allegedly touched her inappropriately, prompting her to curse him.

“The brother, who was waiting for his sister on the other side of the road, soon joined in the confrontation and started cursing the soldier, who immediately corked his rifle and shot the boy in the head, leaving him in a pool of his own blood,” the source said.

Akpan further explained, “Miracle Daniel (15) and Timothy Daniel (13) were returning from church with others. As Miracle crossed the road to urinate, the soldier, who was near the residence of the former clan head, late HRH Barr. Clement Idemudo, where Chinese expatriates live, followed her and made advances. The church shares the same fence with the residence.

“She snubbed him, and he became angry and touched her buttocks. Provoked by the harassment, Miracle cursed the soldier, and he threatened her. The brother, waiting on the other side, joined her and cursed the soldier for sexually abusing his sister.

“The soldier then threatened them further, and as they continued confronting him, he corked his rifle and aimed directly at the boy’s head.”

Reacting to the incident, Patrick Udoma, Publicity Secretary of Mboho Ukpum Ete, a sociopolitical group in the area, described it as an act of terrorism.

“He expressed dissatisfaction over the unprofessional manner in which the army personnel unleashed mayhem on the citizens of Ukpum Ete in the murder of our citizen in the early hours of January 1, 2026, throwing the family and the clan into mourning.

“This act is perceived as terrorism and unacceptable by the people of Ukpum Ete clan,” Udoma said.

He called on authorities to ensure justice and demanded that appropriate punishment be meted out to the “trigger-happy” soldier.

The crisis reportedly also damaged a BMW belonging to Obong Uyai Udoiwod, a former adviser to the Ikot Abasi Chairman on Political Matters, who drove into the scene.

When contacted, Captain Lawal Mohamed, Army Public Relations Officer, 2 Brigade, Mbiokporo, confirmed the incident, saying, “The incident has been handled by the military police and is already under investigation.” (PUNCH)

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