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

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