Uyo, Nigeria – October 11, 2025 – In a poignant tribute that’s left Nigerians reeling, a close friend of the late Lieutenant Samson Haruna has publicly shared their final WhatsApp conversation, offering a glimpse into the warmth and normalcy that preceded the army officer’s tragic death. Haruna, a 28-year-old medical doctor and Regimental Medical Officer at the 6 Battalion in Akwa Ibom State, succumbed to severe burns on October 6, 2025, following a fiery domestic dispute with his wife of just six months, Retyit Haruna.
The friend, Retyit Grace Dasar—who shares the same first name as the widow and has faced mistaken online vitriol—posted the exchange on social media, capturing a lighthearted chat from September 5, 2025. In the messages, Haruna affectionately checks in: “How’s work today? Don’t stress too much, babe,” to which Dasar replies with emojis and updates on her day. Haruna responds with encouragement, ending with a heart emoji and “Take care, see you soon.” Dasar, visibly shattered, captioned the screenshots: “This was our last talk. Who knew it would be goodbye forever? Rest easy, my brother. Your smile lit up every room.” The post has garnered thousands of shares, with users pouring out condolences and questioning how such a “gentle soul” met such a brutal end.
The incident unfolded on September 22, 2025, at the couple’s residence in Wellington Bassey Barracks, Ibagwa, Abak Local Government Area. According to preliminary reports, a heated argument—allegedly fueled by recurring issues over infidelity—escalated when Retyit doused Haruna with petrol and set him ablaze while he slept. Haruna suffered critical burns and was rushed to the battalion’s medical facility before being airlifted to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, where he fought for his life for two weeks. The Nigerian Army confirmed his passing in a somber statement, expressing “profound grief” and vowing a thorough investigation by military police to uncover the full circumstances.
Retyit Haruna, 25, has vehemently denied the allegations, claiming in a viral Facebook post that her husband initiated the violence by threatening her with petrol first: “He came home with petrol and said I should leave or else he would set me ablaze. In self-defense, I acted.” She described the marriage as loving until “hidden pains” surfaced, and pleaded for justice, insisting the narrative has been twisted. The widow remains in custody as probes continue, with the Army urging calm and promising transparency.
Tributes have flooded in from Haruna’s inner circle, painting a picture of a devoted husband and exemplary officer. A wedding committee member, Sunday Ameh, recounted on Facebook how Haruna “loved, cherished, and adored his wife with every fabric in you,” sharing photos from their April 2025 nuptials where the couple beamed in traditional attire. Colleague Bapi William Kanam mourned him as “the kindest person you’d meet—always quick with a joke, slower with judgment.” Even a Catholic priest, Julius Eyyazo, shared his brother’s final exchange with Haruna, filled with banter about football and family, ending with: “If I go deep, this is beyond human comprehension.”
Haruna’s death has ignited national outrage over domestic violence in military homes, with advocates calling for mandatory counseling and swift intervention protocols. “How does a union meant for joy end in ashes?” one commenter lamented. Another woman bearing the name Retyit cried out online: “I’m getting threats because I share her name—please, stop the hate.”
As the investigation unfolds, Haruna’s family clings to memories of a son who graduated into the Army with honors, only to lose him in the sanctuary of home. Funeral arrangements are underway, with a military burial slated for next week. In the words of Dasar: “You deserved the world, Lt. Not this.”
For support on domestic violence, contact Nigeria’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) at 0800-CALL-NAPTIP.