Ifeanyi Ejiofor gives military 14-day ultimatum to probe death of Igbo soldier killed in Katsina

By Ifeizu Joe

Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has called on the Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd.), to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the late Jude Osondu Ude at the 17 Brigade, Katsina.

Late Jude Osondu Ude, a Master’s degree holder and a soldier on the verge of confirmation as a Lieutenant, was said to have been inspired by his father, a retired soldier.

He reportedly served with dedication and was initially posted to Ibadan before being deployed to Katsina on special assignment, where he served with the 17 Brigade and rose to head the Garrison.

According to Ejiofor, Ude was widely regarded as fearless, disciplined, and uncompromising in his duty. However, these qualities may have unsettled certain interests within the system.

In a press release on Saturday, Ejiofor questioned the official narrative suggesting an ambush, describing it as convenient and potentially misleading.

He alleged that, on March 15, 2026, within the 17 Brigade Garrison in Katsina, Ude was brutally stabbed in what appeared to be an internally orchestrated attack.

“Gravely wounded, he sought help within the barracks but was left unaided. He later died from his injuries, raising troubling questions about safety within the ranks,” he stated.

Ejiofor further lamented that the tragedy was compounded by what he described as institutional neglect.

He alleged that the soldier’s remains were abandoned by the military, with no structured support or honour accorded to him.

According to him, Ude’s father, elderly and grief-stricken, bore the financial burden of transporting his son’s body from Katsina to Enugu at significant personal cost, including expenses for logistics, feeding, mortuary services, and ambulance conveyance, without any support from the military.

According to Ejiofor, Jude’s father paid a staggering personal cost of ₦750,000.00 merely to transport his son’s corpse from Katsina to Enugu. Additional expenses followed: ₦50,000.00 on road logistics, ₦20,000.00 on feeding those who accompanied him, ₦25,000.00 for mortuary services, and ₦35,000.00 for ambulance conveyance. Not a single kobo was provided by the Nigerian Military.

He described the situation as a “national embarrassment,” questioning the value placed on service and sacrifice.

The soldier was buried on April 5, 2026 (Easter Sunday), in his hometown in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State. Ejiofor noted that there was no ceremonial guard, no final salute, and no military presence at the burial.

“In light of these grievous circumstances, we call on the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Chief of Defence Staff to institute a thorough investigation into this matter,” he reiterated.

He warned that internal sabotage within the military must be addressed urgently, stating that failure to honour fallen soldiers undermines national security and morale.

“A nation that fails to honour its fallen heroes does more than betray the dead; it imperils the living,” he said.

He said that while Ude may have been silenced, the questions surrounding his death remain and must be answered.
“Justice must not only be done; it must be seen, felt, and restored.” he said .

He also urged the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, to immediately institute a thorough, transparent, and uncompromising investigation into the circumstances leading to Ude’s stabbing, subsequent death, and the alleged neglect he suffered both in life and after death.

He stated that the military authorities have fourteen (14) days to take meaningful action, failing which legal steps will be taken to seek redress.

He recounted that Jude, gravely wounded and bleeding, struggled within the barracks seeking help, possibly from fellow soldiers, but none came to his aid.

He said he was later admitted to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on March 22, 2026, a week after the attack.

“Thus ended the life of a man who had sworn to defend others, but was denied defence in his own hour of peril,” he said.