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HURIWA Slams Nigerian Army Over Alleged Civilian Killing, Warns of Rising Impunity

Published

1 week ago

December 20, 2025

HURIWA Slams Nigerian Army Over Alleged Civilian Killing, Warns of Rising Impunity

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly condemned the Nigerian Army, describing the current period as one of its most troubling eras for human rights, and accusing the military high command of attempting to justify the unlawful killing of a civilian while eroding public trust in civil–military accountability.

HURIWA’s criticism followed a formal statement by the Nigerian Army defending the actions of a soldier, Lance Corporal Sefiu Ibrahim, in connection with the death of Mr. Ugochukwu Oghenekaro Bonny, who was allegedly stabbed to death at the gate of a private estate in Warri, Delta State, on October 12.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the rights group said the Army’s explanation “trivialised the sanctity of civilian life” and raised serious concerns about the rules governing military deployment and the use of force in civilian environments.

HURIWA expressed alarm that a trained soldier was assigned to serve as a guard in a private estate, questioning the constitutional and operational basis for deploying military personnel to duties typically handled by private security operatives or civil law enforcement agencies.

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The group warned that the growing militarisation of civilian spaces was fostering impunity and leading to avoidable loss of life.

According to HURIWA, the circumstances surrounding Mr. Bonny’s death remain deeply troubling, noting that the deceased, who was reportedly visiting a friend, became involved in an altercation at the estate gate—an incident the group said should never have escalated into lethal violence.

“It is unconscionable that a soldier allegedly drew a jack-knife and stabbed a civilian to death at close range, yet the Army now seeks to shield the incident with claims of self-defence,” the association said.

HURIWA also questioned the internal consistency of the Army’s narrative, asking why a jack-knife was allegedly used instead of a service rifle if the soldier’s life was truly under imminent threat, and how claims of attempted disarmament could stand where eyewitnesses reportedly insist the soldier was not armed with a firearm at the time.

The group said these contradictions cast doubt on the credibility of the Army’s account and underscored the need for an independent, civilian-led investigation.

HURIWA further challenged the Army to release objective evidence, including any CCTV footage from the estate where the killing occurred, stressing that transparency is the minimum standard in cases involving civilian deaths.

It warned that internal military investigations, conducted without public scrutiny, only deepen perceptions that the Army acts as judge and jury in cases of alleged abuse.

The association disclosed that it has linked the bereaved family with prominent human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, who has indicated willingness to take up the case. According to HURIWA, the family is preparing for legal action to test the Army’s claims before a competent court.

The group also called on the international community, including the United Nations Human Rights Council and the United States government, to closely monitor Nigeria’s human rights record and speak out against alleged extra-judicial killings by security agencies.

HURIWA emphasised that its position is not driven by hostility toward the military but by a commitment to the rule of law and the protection of innocent lives, warning that a military perceived as excusing civilian deaths risks losing moral authority and public confidence.

Justice for Mr. Ugochukwu Oghenekaro Bonny, the group said, has become a defining test of whether the Nigerian Army remains bound by constitutional restraint or has drifted into a culture of force without accountability.

HURIWA Slams Nigerian Army Over Alleged Civilian Killing, Warns of Rising Impunity

Related Topics:Civilian Killing HURIWA nigerian army

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Gunmen Attack Gebbe Community in Kebbi, Many Feared Dead

Published

15 hours ago

December 29, 2025

Trends Admin

Kebbi State Commissioner of Police, Bello Muhammad Sani

Gunmen Attack Gebbe Community in Kebbi, Many Feared Dead

Suspected gunmen have launched a deadly attack on Gebbe community in Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State, leaving an undisclosed number of people feared dead and several others injured.

Eyewitnesses said the assailants struck suddenly, firing sporadic gunshots that threw the community into panic, forcing residents to flee to neighbouring villages and nearby bushes for safety.

Local sources disclosed that the exact number of casualties could not be immediately ascertained due to the scale of the attack and the displacement of residents. The incident has reportedly left the community, which has not experienced such violence in years, in a state of shock and trauma.

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Confirming the incident, the Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, said police operatives have been deployed to the area to assess the situation.

“The police are currently on ground to determine the number of casualties and injured persons. An official statement will be issued as soon as investigations are concluded,” he said.

Some residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that security agencies have mobilised to restore calm in the area.

Meanwhile, community members have appealed to the Kebbi State Government and security agencies to provide urgent intervention, describing the attack as unprecedented in the history of Gebbe community.

Gunmen Attack Gebbe Community in Kebbi, Many Feared Dead

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Three Killed, NSCDC Outpost Burnt in Katsina Youths–Police Clash

Published

15 hours ago

December 29, 2025

Trends Admin

Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Katsina State Command, DSP Abubakar Aliyu

Three Killed, NSCDC Outpost Burnt in Katsina Youths–Police Clash

No fewer than three persons were killed and several others injured following violent clashes between youths and security operatives in Katsina metropolis, Katsina State.

The unrest reportedly began late on Friday, December 27, around 10:00 p.m., when police operatives raided suspected criminal hideouts in Sabuwar Unguwa Quarters in an attempt to arrest a suspected drug dealer identified as Uzairu, popularly known as Kuda.

According to the Katsina State Police Command, the suspect resisted arrest and raised an alarm that attracted suspected gang members, who attacked the officers in a bid to free him. During the ensuing struggle, a firearm was discharged, hitting Uzairu. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was later confirmed dead.

Tension escalated the following day during Uzairu’s funeral procession, as youths allegedly clashed again with security personnel at the graveyard. Two persons were reportedly hit by stray bullets during the confrontation.

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Police authorities confirmed that one of the victims died on arrival at the hospital, while the second is currently receiving treatment.

Amid the violence, the youths allegedly set ablaze a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) outpost and attempted to burn a nearby police outpost before security reinforcements were deployed to the area.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Katsina State Command, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, said the clashes resulted in the death of two civilians, while another injured victim is responding to treatment.

DSP Aliyu explained that during the initial raid, the police team was attacked, an operational vehicle was damaged, and several officers sustained injuries. He added that one policeman was stabbed with a knife while suspects attempted to disarm him.

“During the struggle to secure the rifle, a shot was released, hitting and injuring the suspect, who later died in the hospital,” he said.

He further disclosed that on December 28, suspected miscreants hijacked the funeral procession, attacked security personnel, burned the NSCDC outpost, inflicted a deep machete wound on a policeman, and damaged a police patrol vehicle.

The police spokesperson said calm has been restored following the deployment of additional police and NSCDC personnel to the area.

DSP Aliyu added that the Commissioner of Police has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident and appealed to residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies.

Three Killed, NSCDC Outpost Burnt in Katsina Youths–Police Clash

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Two Killed, 16 Injured in Fuel Tanker Crash at Polo Roundabout in Jos

Published

15 hours ago

December 29, 2025

Trends Admin

Two Killed, 16 Injured in Fuel Tanker Crash at Polo Roundabout in Jos

At least two persons were killed and 16 others injured following a fuel tanker crash in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Sunday evening.

The accident occurred near the Polo Field Club Roundabout, close to St. Louis College, when a laden fuel tanker reportedly lost its brakes shortly after the Plateau State Specialist Hospital Roundabout and rammed into several vehicles.

Confirming the incident on Monday, the Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Peter Longsan, said emergency responders swiftly arrived at the scene to prevent further casualties.

According to Longsan, 18 persons were involved in the crash. Two male adults died on the spot, while 16 injured victims were rushed to the Plateau State Specialist Hospital and Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BUTH) for medical treatment. The corpses of the deceased were deposited at BUTH.

He explained that the accident was reported to the FRSC at about 6:49pm on December 28, 2025, prompting immediate rescue operations by the FRSC in collaboration with other security and emergency agencies.

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To avert a possible fire outbreak, the area was cordoned off and traffic diverted, while security agencies prevented looting. Fortunately, Longsan said there was no spillage of petroleum products, significantly reducing the risk of explosion.

Agencies involved in the operation included the FRSC, Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, Federal Fire Service, NSCDC, Operation Rainbow, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Vehicle Inspection Officers, and the Vigilante Group of Nigeria.

Following the rescue operation, the petroleum product was safely transloaded, damaged vehicles were removed, and the road was fully cleared, restoring traffic flow by Monday morning.

Commending the coordinated response, FRSC Plateau Sector Commander, Olajide E. Mogaji, praised stakeholders and community members for their cooperation and reiterated that road safety is a shared responsibility.

He urged motorists to drive cautiously, especially during the festive season, and advised the public to report emergencies using the FRSC emergency number 122.