The Nigerian Army 22 Armoured Brigade, Ilorin, Kwara State, said it had begun an investigation into the circumstances behind the deaths of a soldier, Lance Corporal Akenleye Femi, and his wife, who were found in their apartment in the Wawa Cantonment, Niger State, North Central Nigeria,
The acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 22 Armoured Brigade, Ilorin, Captain Stephen Nwankwo, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
The incident, which occurred at the Wawa Cantonment in Niger State on Saturday, threw the cantonment into confusion, as residents gathered around the block where the bodies were found.
A source who pleaded anonymity because of the nature of the incident told our correspondent that the deceased officer was known to be calm and dedicated to duty, but had been acting withdrawn in recent weeks.
“He was not a troublesome person, but recently we noticed he wasn’t his usual self. Nobody knew it would end this way,” the source added.
Another resident described the atmosphere within the cantonment as “sombre and tense,” saying the couple had been seen together the previous evening without any sign of trouble.
The military authorities have since cordoned off the area and restricted movement around the building pending further investigation.
Confirming the incident on Monday, Nwankwo described it as unfortunate, adding that the incident occurred inside the soldier’s apartment.
“The incident occurred on October 11, 2025, inside the soldier’s apartment at Block 15, Room 24, Corporals and Below Quarters within the cantonment.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that Lance Corporal Femi, who was serving with the 221 Battalion, had been on duty within the barracks before seeking permission from his superior officers to attend to a personal matter.
“However, moments later, the bodies of the soldier and his wife were discovered in their apartment, causing panic among residents of the military facility.”
He added that the circumstances behind the death of the couple could not yet be ascertained, while stressing that their bodies have been deposited at a morgue for further investigation.
Nwankwo added, “The tragic incident, which occurred at Wawa Cantonment, has caused a tense atmosphere, leaving the barracks residents in shock as to the circumstances that could have led to such an unfortunate event.
“The remains of the deceased have been preserved, while an in-depth investigation has since commenced to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.”
He expressed sorrow over the development and extended condolences to the family, colleagues, and friends of the deceased couple.
“The Army deeply regrets this sad incident and prays for the peaceful repose of their souls. We assure the public that the outcome of the investigation will be made public and necessary measures will be put in place to prevent future occurrences,” Captain Nwankwo said.
Source: Punch News
