Father demands N700m from Nigerian Army for son’s death

Andy Ita Ukpe is demanding N700 million compensation from the Nigerian Army to take care of the two children left behind by his son, who was allegedly killed by a soldier attached to Command Secondary School in June 2017.

The deceased, Solomon Ukpe, aged 29, was allegedly shot dead by a private soldier identified as Ocheme Abel while packing sand in front of the school for block-making.

The deceased father, who was physically depressed when he visited the secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Kaduna State, lamented that the body of his son is yet to be released for a befitting burial 10 months after the unfortunate incident.

When contacted, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 1 Division Mechanised Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Col. Mohammed Dole, declined to comment on the allegation.

According to the man, “my late son, a carpenter and father of two, went to pack sand in front of Command Secondary School for block-making when the soldier attached to the school challenged him to stop, which he did.

The soldier then gave him money to get him cigarette, but as he turned around to go, Abel shot him from behind, killing him instantly.