Nigerian human rights lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has called on the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, to urgently investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of soldier Jude Osondu Ude at the 17 Brigade in Katsina.
Ejiofor also urged the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, to launch a thorough, transparent, and uncompromising probe into the incident, which he described as deeply troubling.
In a statement, the lawyer condemned what he termed the tragic and neglected death of the young soldier, giving military authorities a 14-day ultimatum to take decisive action or face legal consequences.
He recounted that Ude, after being brutally stabbed on March 15, 2026, within the barracks, was left to struggle for help despite being critically wounded.
According to him, the soldier was eventually taken to hospital, where he died a week later, on March 22.
“Thus ended the life of a man who had sworn to defend others, but was denied defence in his own hour of peril,” Ejiofor said.
While acknowledging his respect for the Defence Minister, Ejiofor warned against allowing internal sabotage, rivalry, and possible complicity within the military to go unchecked.
He stressed that anyone found responsible must be held accountable to restore public trust in the armed forces.
The human rights advocate questioned the official account suggesting an ambush.
He described it as potentially misleading, and insisted the attack appeared to have been internally orchestrated within the 17 Brigade.
Beyond the circumstances of his death, Ejiofor alleged gross institutional neglect.
He claimed the military failed to support the late soldier’s family, leaving his elderly father to bear the full cost of transporting his remains from Katsina to Enugu.
Grieving father left alone
According to him, the grieving father spent about ₦750,000 to move the body, alongside additional expenses for logistics, feeding, mortuary services, and ambulance transport—all without any assistance from the military.
Ejiofor described the situation as a “national embarrassment,” lamenting that a soldier who served with dedication was denied dignity in death.
He noted that Ude, a Master’s degree holder and officer on the verge of confirmation as a Lieutenant, had served in Ibadan before his deployment to Katsina, where he rose to head the Garrison.
He further revealed that the soldier was buried on April 5, 2026—Easter Sunday—in his hometown in Enugu State without any military honours, ceremonial guard, or official presence.
Reiterating his demand for justice, Ejiofor warned that failure to address the incident could erode morale within the armed forces and weaken national security.
“A nation that fails to honour its fallen heroes does more than betray the dead; it imperils the living,” he said.
He added that while Ude may be gone, the questions surrounding his death must be answered.
