Army launches probe into officer’s death in barracks blaze set by wife

Etim Ekpimah, Uyo

The Nigerian Army has launched a full investigation into the death of Lieutenant Samson Haruna, who succumbed to severe burns after his wife allegedly set him ablaze during a domestic dispute at Wellington Bassey Barracks, Ibagwa, Akwa Ibom State.

In a statement on Tuesday night, Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Captain Lawal Muhammad, confirmed that 2 Brigade Headquarters, Uyo, has begun a formal probe to unravel the circumstances surrounding the officer’s tragic death.

The late Haruna, who was the Regimental Medical Officer of 6 Battalion, reportedly sustained fatal burns on September 22, 2025, during a violent altercation with his wife, Retyit Samson Haruna, a nurse.

“Preliminary findings indicate that the incident followed a heated argument between the couple, which escalated when the wife allegedly set fire to household items in their apartment, trapping the officer in the inferno,” the army stated.

He was first stabilised at the Battalion Medical Facility before being transferred to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, where he died in the early hours of Tuesday.

“The Nigerian Army strongly condemns this act of domestic violence and has directed military police to carry out a thorough investigation to determine the remote and immediate causes of the incident,” the statement read.

The army also extended condolences to the bereaved family and appealed for calm, assuring that justice would be served upon completion of the investigation.

“The Nigerian Army remains committed to promoting peaceful coexistence within families and will not tolerate any act of violence that threatens lives within the barracks community,” the statement added.

Security sources said the suspect has been arrested and is currently in military custody as investigators piece together evidence and eyewitness accounts.

Reports indicate that the couple, who had been married for only about five months, had a history of domestic disputes before the tragic incident.

Counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, who first broke the story on his X handle, revealed that the officer was a medical doctor serving with the 6 Battalion and that his wife allegedly poured petrol on him before setting him ablaze.

Military authorities have assured that the outcome of the ongoing investigation will determine subsequent disciplinary and legal measures in line with both military and civil laws.