Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has narrated the circumstances surrounding the alleged killing of a 13-year-old boy, Master Timothy Daniel Monday, who was reportedly shot dead by a soldier on New Year’s Day in Akwa Ibom State.
In an emotional account made via his X account on Tuesday, Effiong said he was contacted by the victim’s sister, Miss Miracle Daniel Monday, whose account of the incident left him deeply disturbed.
“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 of her brother,” Effiong said.
According to him, Master Timothy, a JSS 2 student of Bensona International School, King Jaja Street, Borokiri, Port Harcourt, was killed on Thursday, January 1, 2026, during a New Year crossover service at Mount Zion Church, Ette, in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Effiong explained that Miracle, who witnessed the incident, told him that she stepped out of the church premises with her siblings during the service when they were confronted by soldiers deployed to provide security for Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Limited, also known as Sterling Global.
“She told me that she asked the soldiers to hold on for her to finish urinating, but that innocuous comment infuriated one of the soldiers who felt challenged,” the lawyer said.
According to the account, the soldier allegedly pushed Miracle to the ground. When she questioned his action, Effiong said the soldier became more aggressive, slapped her and also assaulted her sister.
He added that another soldier later intervened, apologised to the sisters and asked them to leave the area.
“As they were leaving, they heard gunshots,” Effiong narrated. “It later turned out that the same soldier who had assaulted them had opened fire and killed Master Timothy instantly.”
The lawyer said the family reported the incident to the Nigerian Army at the 6 Battalion, Wellington Basi Barracks, Ibagwa, in Abak Local Government Area, as well as to the police.
Effiong disclosed that when he contacted Miracle again, she confirmed that Sterling Global had not reached out to or visited the family since the incident.
“Till this moment, Sterling Global has not deemed it fit to contact or visit the grieving family,” he said, describing the company’s attitude as “despicable and unacceptable.”
He called on the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff, the General Officer Commanding of the 6 Battalion in Ibagwa and the Akwa Ibom State Government to urgently intervene in the matter.
“I am calling on them to ensure that the culprit is court-martialed for murder and that the family is adequately compensated,” Effiong said.
The rights lawyer stressed that no Nigerian should be killed by those entrusted with the duty of protecting citizens, adding that the pain inflicted on the family was unimaginable.
“They live in Port Harcourt and only went home for the holidays,” he said.
Effiong also cited Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to life.
“No one should be deprived of this sacred right except in strict compliance with the manner prescribed by the Constitution,” he said, insisting that justice must be served for the slain teenager.
