Tragedy Strikes as Soldier Shot Dead After Leaving Duty for Strippers Club Night Party in Anambra

 

A soldier serving under Nigeria’s Operation Udoka has been killed by gunmen suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), following an unauthorized outing to a party in Anambra State.

The incident occurred on the evening of Saturday, May 18, 2025, at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Uli. The slain serviceman had reportedly abandoned his duty post to attend a strippers’ event, dubbed the “Ladies’ Jamboree,” at a nearby hotel while still dressed in his military camouflage.

Military sources say his absence was detected during a tactical deployment. On initiating a sweep of the surrounding areas, troops discovered that the soldier had exited the base without proper clearance, violating standard operational procedures.

“He left the base in uniform and attended a party not far from the location. It was there that he was confronted and shot dead by suspected IPOB/ESN fighters,” a security operative familiar with the situation told PUNCH Metro under the condition of anonymity. “His corpse, along with that of a baby, was recovered by troops at the scene. His weapon has since been retrieved and is in safe custody.”

The tragic incident adds to a string of assaults on security forces operating in the South-East, a region plagued in recent years by attacks allegedly carried out by IPOB and its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). These attacks have frequently targeted personnel of the military, police, and other state institutions, raising concerns about the safety of operatives and the rising volatility of the region.

Despite repeated efforts to contact the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, his phone line remained unreachable, and he had not responded to messages as of the time of filing this report.

Operation Udoka, which falls under the directive of the Defence Headquarters, continues its campaign against insurgency and separatist violence in the region. The loss of one of its operatives in such a circumstance is likely to raise new questions about internal discipline, troop morale, and the challenges of operating in an area fraught with hostility and unpredictability.

Authorities are expected to launch a formal investigation into both the circumstances surrounding the soldier’s unauthorized departure and the events leading to his death. Military protocol strictly forbids personnel from leaving operational posts without command clearance, particularly while armed and in uniform.

The broader context remains tense, with security forces maintaining a heavy presence in parts of the South-East in response to separatist activities and targeted ambushes. The killing has sparked renewed discussion among military watchers about the need for heightened vigilance and stricter enforcement of internal conduct rules.

As of now, the identity of the deceased soldier has not been officially disclosed, and details surrounding the presence of the deceased baby at the crime scene remain unclear. The military is yet to release an official statement confirming the full scope of the incident.