Relatives fight to save loved one reportedly wounded in military operation

For over two months, 26-year-old Franklin Ivara has been confined to a hospital bed, enduring immense pain from an alleged gunshot wound that fractured his left leg during a military operation in Itigidi Community, Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State.

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His family claims that the Nigerian Army, which allegedly promised community leaders it would cover his medical expenses, has failed to fulfill its commitment, exacerbating the ordeal and causing significant financial strain on his widowed mother, a retired civil servant with limited means.

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Franklin currently lies at the Federal Medical Centre in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, awaiting a series of urgent surgeries that doctors say are necessary to save his leg, with his family struggling to keep him alive as medical bills mount beyond their reach.

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Documents, including an interim police investigation report from the Cross River State Police Command, indicate that Franklin might have sustained a gunshot injury to his left leg during an operation conducted by personnel at a military checkpoint along the Ediba–Itigidi Road on April 20, 2026, with the police report describing the incident as an accident and confirming the victim suffered a severe gunshot wound.

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According to Franklin’s elder brother, John Ivara, community youths initially impounded a motorcycle belonging to the soldiers involved to compel authorities to address the incident, but released it after the soldiers allegedly pledged to transport Franklin for specialist treatment and cover all resulting medical expenses.

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John Ivara stated that during a meeting attended by community leaders, clan heads, women, and youth representatives, the Army personnel assured the community that they would take full responsibility for Franklin’s medical treatment and bills, but after the motorcycle was released and the officers left, nobody heard from them again.

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The Army claimed it had received intelligence that some persons were stockpiling weapons in a particular location, and when they arrived at the scene, the person they were supposedly looking for attempted to escape, with Franklin, who was unarmed, running alongside other community members who were frightened by the soldiers’ presence.

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An Army officer later explained that the shooting was an accidental discharge and that the shot was not intentionally directed at Franklin, with the soldiers assuring Franklin they would cover the cost of his treatment, but failing to follow through on their commitment.

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After the bike was released and the officers left, Franklin’s family kept calling and appealing to them for weeks, but nothing happened, with his mother and some compassionate youths eventually having to take Franklin to Abakaliki themselves.

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Doctors at the Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki, recommended multiple surgical procedures and requested an initial deposit of N2.5 million before treatment could proceed, with the family saying it cannot afford the cost and fearing the delay could result in permanent disability.

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Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 13 Brigade, Major Yemi Sokoya, dismissed claims that the commanding officer of the Brigade entered into any agreement with the victim, insisting there is no evidence to support such allegations and claiming troops were conducting an operation against suspected criminal gangs believed to be involved in kidnapping when the incident happened.

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Major Sokoya claimed that the troops trailed the suspects to a location where they were gathered before coming under attack, with Franklin being caught in the crossfire, and questioned why the victim was with the suspected criminals, noting that arrests were made during the operation and those apprehended were suspected gang members.

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The Major further disclosed that investigators interrogated Franklin about his relationship with the suspected kidnappers, but he could not provide a satisfactory explanation, and addressing allegations that the Army reached an agreement with the victim’s family to finance the medical bills, Major Sokoya said a relative of the victim who raised the claim could not provide evidence to support it.

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Major Sokoya stated that the Army would investigate further if any documentary evidence of an agreement is produced, but maintained that the battalion’s commanding officer denied knowledge of any such arrangement, leaving Franklin’s fate hanging in the balance as he continues to keep faith that help would come.