Army Launches Probe into Death of Soldier, Wife in Niger Barracks
The Nigerian Army has commenced a full-scale investigation into the mysterious deaths of a Soldier, Lance Corporal Akenleye Femi, and his wife, whose lifeless bodies were discovered in their apartment at the Wawa Cantonment, New Bussa, Niger State.
The tragic incident, which occurred on Saturday, 12th October, 2025 reportedly threw the entire military community into panic as residents and fellow officers gathered in disbelief around the couple’s residence.
Confirming the development in a statement issued on Monday, the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 22 Armoured Brigade, Ilorin, Captain Stephen Nwankwo, said the Brigade had launched an inquiry to unravel the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
According to him, the Army authorities are deeply saddened by the loss and are working closely with relevant security and medical agencies to determine the cause of death.
He assured that findings from the ongoing investigation would be made public upon conclusion.
“The Nigerian Army is committed to the welfare and safety of its personnel. We have commenced an investigation to ascertain what led to the unfortunate incident.
The public will be duly informed when the process is completed,” the statement read in part.
Sources within the cantonment told Global Mirror News that the couple was last seen alive on Friday evening.
When neighbours noticed that neither Femi nor his wife had been seen throughout Saturday, they reportedly alerted Military Police, who later forced the door open and discovered their remains.
One of the neighbours, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the late Lance Corporal as a calm, disciplined, and dedicated Soldier, adding that he had appeared “unusually quiet” and withdrawn in recent weeks.
“He was a very respectful and focused officer. But lately, he had not been his usual self. We never imagined something like this could happen,” the source said.
Although the cause of death remains unclear, preliminary reports suggest there were no signs of struggle or forced entry into the apartment.
The bodies have been evacuated to a military hospital for autopsy as part of the ongoing investigation.
The Army has meanwhile urged members of the public to avoid speculation and allow the investigative process to run its course.
Lance Corporal Femi, according to military records, was attached to the 22 Armoured Brigade in Ilorin, Kwara State, and was said to have been deployed to Wawa Cantonment as part of his routine assignment.
The incident marks another troubling occurrence within military formations in recent months, sparking renewed discussions about the mental health and welfare of personnel serving in remote duty stations.
