Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has called for immediate action from military authorities and the Akwa Ibom State government following the tragic killing of a 13-year-old boy, Timothy Daniel Monday, allegedly shot by a soldier attached to Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Ltd. in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State.

In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Effiong revealed that the incident took place on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2026, during a confrontation between soldiers deployed to protect the oil firm’s facility. The young boy, a Junior Secondary School (JSS) 2 student at Bensona International School in Port Harcourt, was reportedly killed by a soldier’s gunfire during the altercation.

Account of the Incident

Effiong shared details from Miracle Daniel Monday, Timothy’s sister and an eyewitness to the tragic event. According to Miracle, she and her siblings had attended a Cross Over Service at Mount Zion Church in Ette, Ikot Abasi, and briefly stepped outside during the service. It was then that they encountered soldiers guarding the Sterling Global facility.

Miracle explained that a misunderstanding occurred when she asked the soldiers to allow her and her siblings to finish what they were doing. The soldier, apparently feeling challenged, pushed her to the ground and subsequently slapped her. Effiong said another soldier intervened, apologized, and told the sisters to leave. However, as they were leaving, they heard gunshots, and it soon emerged that one of the soldiers had fired, fatally injuring Timothy.

Family’s Reaction and Call for Accountability

The Daniel Monday family immediately reported the incident to the Nigerian Army at the Cantonment 6 Battalion in Wellington Basi Barracks, as well as to the local police. Effiong also alleged that Sterling Global, the oil company responsible for the soldier’s deployment, had yet to reach out to the grieving family, despite the severity of the incident.

Effiong voiced his outrage, stating, “I called Miracle this morning, and she confirmed that Sterling Global has not deemed it fit to contact or visit the grieving family.” He criticized the company’s apparent indifference to the tragic loss and called for urgent intervention.

Calls for Justice and Intervention

The lawyer demanded that the Minister of Defence, Chief of Army Staff, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 6 Battalion, and the Akwa Ibom State Government intervene swiftly. He called for the soldier responsible to be court-martialed for murder and for the family to receive adequate compensation.

Effiong also condemned the company’s nonchalant attitude in handling the case, calling it “despicable and unacceptable.” He emphasized that the killing violated Section 33 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life, and demanded that justice be served.

Violation of Constitutional Rights

“This family has been subjected to unimaginable pain. The boy was killed in a senseless manner by those who are supposed to protect citizens,” Effiong stated. “No Nigerian should be killed in this manner, and the state must ensure that this tragedy is not swept under the rug.”

As of now, neither the Nigerian Army nor the Akwa Ibom State government has publicly responded to the allegations.