Family of slain lieutenant seeks justice, demand N500m

The family of a slain serving officer, Lt. Benjamin Edim, has called on the Nigerian Army to investigate circumstances surrounding the “mysterious” death of their sibling.  

The late Lt. Edim served at the 144 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Aba, Abia State, before his untimely death as a result of injuries sustained from gun shots on July 26, 2015.

The deceased, who hailed from Ekpokpa community in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State, was reportedly killed during an operation at Ogunabor LGA of Abia State.

However, the deceased family lawyer, Mr. Wodah Ogar, in a petition to the Chief of Army Staff, which was made available to journalists in Calabar, alleged that the late army officer was “deliberately” killed by his colleagues while on a mission to rescue a kidnap victim in the area. 

The family is demanding a thorough investigation into the incident and compensation of N500m from the Nigerian Army.

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Ogar said, “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.”

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 the suspected kidnapper was shot only in the leg, fuelling speculations that his murder was premeditated.

Ogar said, “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.”