The sudden disappearance of Nigerian soldier, Joseph Bukola Abayomi, has thrown his family into agony and confusion after he was declared missing from the Ikoyi Barracks in Lagos. The young soldier, identified by army number 23NA/84/0644 and a member of Intake 84, was reportedly preparing for his daily assignment on Tuesday, October 21, before vanishing without a trace.
Abayomi, very early in the morning, was said to have begun his usual routine inside the Barracks, laying out his toothbrush, toothpaste, and phone as he got ready for work. But moments later, according to family accounts, he was nowhere to be found. His personal belongings remained untouched, deepening the mystery of what might have transpired within the secure military facility.
Relatives revealed that the family’s ordeal was worsened by the delay in being informed.
“They called to inform the mother after six days,” a family member recounted, highlighting their pain over what they described as the army’s slow response. The family has since visited the barracks multiple times, hoping for answers or any sign of the missing soldier.
Those who knew Abayomi describe him as a disciplined officer and a man of integrity who had shown no signs of distress or plans to abandon his duty. “We don’t understand what happened. It’s unlike him. The family just wants to know what went wrong,” another relative said, their words weighed down by worry and disbelief.
While the Nigerian Army is yet to issue an official statement regarding the soldier’s disappearance, concerns are mounting about internal security within the barracks and the welfare of service members. The family continues to plead for transparency and urgent investigation, as days have turned into weeks without any lead on his whereabouts.
