A 13-year-old boy, Timothy Daniel, was allegedly shot dead by a soldier in Akwa Ibom State on January 1, an incident that has prompted an investigation by the Nigerian Army. Initial reports circulated online along with a photo of the deceased, detailing a tragic confrontation that occurred while Timothy and his sister were returning from a church service.

The incident took place in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area. Timothy Daniel and his 15-year-old sister, Miracle Daniel, had attended a Crossover Service at Mount Zion Full Gospel Church. The family, typically residing in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was visiting Akwa Ibom for the Christmas holiday.

Accounts of the event detail a harrowing encounter with military personnel. Early reports suggested that Timothy was shot dead after confronting a soldier who had allegedly made sexual advances towards and inappropriately touched his sister, Miracle Daniel. Residents reported that the siblings began cursing the officer for his actions, which reportedly infuriated the soldier, leading him to cock his gun and allegedly shoot Timothy in the head, leaving him dead in a pool of his own blood.

However, a more detailed narration provided by Miracle Daniel to human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong presented a slightly different sequence of events. According to Effiong, Ms. Daniel recounted that while she, Timothy, and other relatives stepped out from the crossover service to urinate, they were accosted by soldiers deployed to protect Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Ltd. She appealed to one of the soldiers to wait for her to finish urinating, which reportedly infuriated him as he felt disobeyed. The soldier then pushed her to the ground. When questioned, he became more incensed, slapping her and assaulting her sister.

Mr. Effiong stated that another soldier subsequently intervened, apologized to Ms. Daniel and her siblings, and asked them to leave. As they were departing, they heard gunshots, and it was revealed that the same soldier who had earlier assaulted them had opened fire, killing Timothy instantly. The lawyer emphasized that photographs sent by the family were "too graphic" to share, showing the victim's brain "completely shattered."

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the incident and initiated an investigation. Captain Lawal Mohamed, spokesperson for the 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Mbiokporo, announced that the Military Police had taken over the matter, assuring that "due process would be followed." The family reported the case to the Nigerian Army Cantonment 6 Battalion Wellington Basi Barracks at Ibagwa in Abak Local Government Area, as well as to the state police.

Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has since called for justice, noting that Sterling Global, the company the soldier was attached to, had not contacted or visited the grieving family as of January 5. He urged the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa; the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu; the General Officer Commanding of the 6 Battalion, Ibagwa, Eric Emekah; and the Akwa Ibom State Government to intervene. Effiong demanded that the soldier be court-martialed for murder and that the family be adequately compensated, stressing that "No Nigerian should be killed in this manner by those who are supposed to protect them." He cited Section 33 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life, and highlighted the persistent issue of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations by security operatives in Nigeria despite sanctions.