…Claims officers involved promised to process the bills
*No evidence to support such – Army
By Efe Onodjae
For over two months, 26-year-old Franklin Ivara has remained on a hospital bed, battling excruciating pain from an alleged gunshot wound that shattered his left leg during a military operation in Itigidi Community, Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State.
His family says the ordeal is made more painful not only by the injury itself but also by what they describe as a broken promise by the Nigerian Army, which allegedly assured community leaders it would take full responsibility for his treatment.
Today, however, Franklin lies at the Federal Medical Centre in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, awaiting a series of surgeries that doctors say are urgently needed to save his leg.
His widowed mother, a retired civil servant with limited means, struggles daily to keep him alive as medical bills mount beyond the family’s reach.
Documents obtained by Vanguard, 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.
The police report described the incident as an accident and confirmed the victim suffered a severe gunshot wound.
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.
However, following a meeting attended by community leaders, clan heads, women and youth representatives, the motorcycle was released after the soldiers allegedly pledged to transport Franklin for specialist treatment and cover all resulting medical expenses.
“On the day the incident occurred, the youths and some chiefs of the community held a meeting with the Army officers involved. The community had seized one of the soldiers’ motorcycles after the incident in order to get their attention and ensure responsibility was taken. During the meeting, the Army personnel assured the community that they would take full responsibility for Franklin’s medical treatment and bills. Based on that assurance, the community released the motorcycle.
“However, after the motorcycle was released and the officers left, nobody heard from them again. What really happened was that the Army said it had received intelligence that some persons were stockpiling weapons in a particular location.
“When they arrived at the scene, the person they were supposedly looking for attempted to escape. Franklin, who was unarmed, was among other community members who also ran when the Army arrived. They had already received complaints about frequent military operations in the area, and some residents became frightened whenever soldiers appeared.
“On that day, Franklin was simply running alongside other community members. He was not armed, and he was not the person the Army was looking for. An Army officer later said the shooting was an accidental discharge and that the shot was not intentionally directed at Franklin. That was the explanation given during the meeting with community leaders.The soldiers assured Franklin they would cover the cost of his treatment.
Continuing, he said, “After the bike was released and they left, nobody heard from them again. We kept calling and appealing to them for weeks, but nothing happened. My mother and some compassionate youths eventually had to take Franklin to Abakaliki themselves.
“Meanwhile, doctors advised that urgent surgery was required so that proper treatment could begin. To date, nothing substantial has been done. Only a minor procedure was carried out, and since then Franklin has been relying on medication while awaiting further treatment.”
Medical records seen by Vanguard show that doctors at the Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki, recommended multiple surgical procedures and requested an initial deposit of N2.5 million before treatment could proceed. The family says it cannot afford the cost and fears the delay could result in permanent disability.
When Vanguard contacted him, 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.
Sokoya claimed troops were conducting an operation against suspected criminal gangs believed to be involved in kidnapping when the incident happened.
According to him, the troops trailed the suspects to a location where the suspects were gathered before the troops came under attack.
“The moment the suspects sighted the troops, they opened fire, and the troops responded. “Franklin was caught in the crossfire,” he said.
The Major questioned why the victim was with the suspected criminals, noting that arrests were made during the operation and that those apprehended were suspected gang members.
He further disclosed that investigators investigated and interrogated Franklin about his relationship with the suspected kidnappers but he could not provide a satisfactory explanation.
Addressing allegations that the Army reached an agreement with the victim’s family to finance the medical bills, the Major said a relative of the victim who raised the claim could not provide evidence to support it.
He said: “I asked if there was any proof that such a meeting took place or if there was any written agreement signed by both parties. The answer was no, because I was not there myself.”
He added 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.
For now, Franklin’s fate hangs in the balance while he continues to keep faith that help would come.
