UYO, Nigeria — A Nigerian Army officer, Lieutenant Samson Haruna, has reportedly died after suffering severe burns allegedly inflicted by his wife during a domestic dispute at Wellington Bassey Barracks, Ibagwa, in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The tragic incident, which occurred on September 22, 2025, was reported by security analyst and counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday.
According to reports, Lt. Haruna, who served as the Regimental Medical Officer with the 6 Battalion, was involved in a heated argument with his wife that escalated into violence.
“The officer had a heated argument with his wife, Mrs. Samson Haruna, which resulted in her dousing him with petrol (PMS) and setting him on fire,” a military source quoted by Zagazola Makama said.
Following the incident, Haruna was rushed to the Military Reference Section (MRS) within the barracks, where he was stabilized before being transferred to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) for further treatment.
Despite efforts by medical personnel, the officer later succumbed to his injuries due to the extent of the burns he sustained.
The suspect, identified as Mrs. Haruna, has since been arrested and taken into custody as military and police authorities begin investigations into the incident.
Efforts to reach Lt. Col. Onyechi Appolonia Anele, Director of Army Public Relations, for official comment were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
Lt. Haruna’s death has sparked shock and sadness among his colleagues and within the military community, with many calling for deeper awareness about domestic violence and emotional stress management among service members and their families.
Background
Lt. Samson Haruna was a medical doctor serving in the Nigerian Army, attached to the 6 Battalion in Akwa Ibom. As a Regimental Medical Officer, his duties involved providing healthcare to soldiers and their families within the barracks.
Domestic violence remains a growing concern in Nigeria, with security analysts urging the armed forces to include mental health and family counseling programs as part of officers’ welfare support systems.
