NIGERIAN ARMY LAUNCHES PROBE INTO DEATH OF SOLDIER AND WIFE IN NIGER STATE CANTONMENT
By Aisha Momoh
The Nigerian Army has commenced an investigation into the mysterious deaths of a soldier, Lance Corporal Akenleye Femi, and his wife, who were found lifeless in their apartment at Wawa Cantonment, Niger State.
The tragic incident, which occurred on Saturday, October 11, 2025, threw the military community into mourning, with movement around the block where the bodies were discovered restricted as part of the investigation.
Confirming the development in a statement on Monday, the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 22 Armoured Brigade, Ilorin, Captain Stephen Nwankwo, described the incident as “unfortunate,” adding that preliminary findings showed it happened inside the soldier’s apartment at Block 15, Room 24, Corporals and Below Quarters.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that Lance Corporal Femi, who was serving with the 221 Battalion, had been on duty within the barracks before seeking permission from his superior officers to attend to a personal matter. Moments later, the bodies of the soldier and his wife were discovered in their apartment, causing panic among residents,” Nwankwo stated.
Residents described the atmosphere in the cantonment as “sombre and tense,” noting that the couple had been seen together the previous evening without any sign of trouble.
According to sources, the deceased soldier was known to be calm and dedicated to duty but had recently appeared withdrawn.
Nwankwo said the bodies have been deposited in a morgue, and an in-depth investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
“The Army deeply regrets this sad incident and prays for the peaceful repose of their souls. We assure the public that the outcome of the investigation will be made public and necessary measures will be put in place to prevent future occurrences,” he added.
This incident comes amid growing concerns over mental health pressures among military personnel.
In September, a soldier, Samson Haruna, died at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital following severe burns sustained in an inferno. A similar tragedy occurred in 2018 when two staff sergeants died and four others were injured at the 192 Battalion in Borno State.
Security experts have repeatedly called for increased mental health support and stress management interventions within the armed forces to prevent such tragedies.
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