Family Of Slain Army Officer Demand Justice

The Nigerian Army have been urged to investigate circumstances surrounding the ‘mysterious’ death of a serving officer, Lt. Benjamin Edim.

The deceased from Ekpokpa community in Ikom local government of Cross River was reportedly killed during an operation at Ogunabor local government area of Abia State.

The late Lt. Edim who served at the 144 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Aba, Abia State before his untimely death was reportedly killed by ‘friendly gun fire” on July 26, 2015.

The deceased family lawyer, Barrister Wodah Ogar in a petition to the Chief of Army Staff and made available to journalists in Calabar alleged that the deceased was ‘deliberately’ killed by his colleagues while on a mission to rescue a kidnap victim in the area.

He alleged that “after soldiers (in uniform) were deployed, the Commanding Officer detailed the deceased to lead another group of soldiers (in mufti) to provide cover for the uniformed soldiers.

“Surprisingly, the Late Lt. Benjamin Edim was shot repeatedly (six times) at close range by his own colleagues on the same mission who now claim they mistook him for one of the kidnappers.”

Barrister Ogar alleged that the deceased who was the Adjutant, 144 Battalion was ‘deliberately’ murdered in cold blood by his colleagues as the incident happened in broad day light.

He further alleged that ‘no other soldier in the deceased company was hurt and that the suspected kidnapper was shot only in the leg ‘fuelling speculations that the murder was premeditated.’

“To give credence to the suspicion of premeditation, when the family visited the mortuary and saw the body of the deceased, it was discovered that he had six bullet wounds while there were also some degree of head injury and lacerations (bruises) which suggest further act of torture.”

The deceased family also alleged that ‘the circumstances of the death of Lt. Benjamin Edim revealed nothing but a systematic premeditated murder of a brilliant young officer with a very bright future.’

The deceased family are therefore demanding a thorough investigation into the incident and compensation of Five Hundred Million Naira (N500, 000, 000) from the Nigerian Army.