Three Killed as Nigerian Soldiers Open Fire in Akwa Ibom Community

At least three persons have been shot dead by soldiers attached to an Indian-owned facility in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday at a checkpoint mounted by personnel of the Nigerian Army providing security for Sterling Petrochemical and Fertilizer Company.

Eyewitnesses said one of the victims, a native of Nnung Udoh community in Ibesikpo, was killed at the scene. Another victim was reportedly a passenger travelling in a commercial vehicle from Port Harcourt to Uyo before being intercepted and shot.

Residents alleged that the soldiers have been responsible for repeated acts of harassment and violence in the area. A video from the scene showed a corpse lying beside a casket at a military checkpoint, with armed soldiers positioned along the road while civilians raised their hands and motorcyclists dismounted to push their bikes past.

Efforts to obtain official comments from the Akwa Ibom State Police Command and the Nigerian Army were unsuccessful at the time of this report.