The Family of Air Force Cadet Officer Emmanuel Chidiebere Onyeomereneche has continued to seek justice five months after the death of the officer in a swimming pool at Damgrate Hotel, Umuahia, on April 9, 2024.
They believe that Chidiebere was murdered rather than drowned, as some have suggested.
At a press conference in Umuahia, Mr. Ephraim Onyeomereneche, the deceased’s father, revealed that an autopsy was performed to ascertain the true cause of death. The results indicated that Chidiebere had been struck on the back of his head with a heavy metal object, which caused his skull to fracture and resulted in a fatal brain hemorrhage.
“Chidiebere is a grown person. At the age of 11, he entered NMA Zaria. He came out as a soldier. He worked for one year at the Defence College, Jaji before entering NDA.
“During the autopsy day on the 29th of June 2024 at the Federal Medical Center, FMC, it was an open one. Incidentally, close to 40 students of Abia State University, some Doctors on Housemanship, some anatomists, everybody was invited. During the autopsy, there were about 14 officially accredited people: 3 policemen, 8 Doctors, 2 people from the hotel, the Army Commanding Officer and Army pathologists were also there to witness.
He added that after obtaining the autopsy results, “It was now a conspiracy of silence. NDA never got back, the police said that NDA has been informed in writing to produce Valentine Obeji (Chidiebere’s friend suspected to know more on the matter) who is with them and NDA has not responded, stating that without Valentine, that they are doing nothing.
“I now asked them, Valentine alone cannot take down Chidiebere. Chidiebere is bigger, taller and has been in the military for close to 13 years. What happens to the hotel where he was murdered? What happened to the persons who took part in his murder? Are there no police investigations to unravel how he was murdered? I didn’t get an answer.”
Mr. Ephraim added that despite the family’s and community’s efforts to secure justice, the Armed Forces, State Government, Police, and Abia State House of Assembly have remained inactive and complacent.
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