Family of slain officer allege colleagues tortured, murdered him

Lawyer to the family of an army Lieutenant, Benjamin Edim who was reportedly killed has petitioned the Nigerian Army demanding a thorough investigation into his killing and compensation of N500m from the Nigerian Army.
The family of the deceased also called on the Army to investigate the death of the serving army officer which they say was “mysterious”.
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 the 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.
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.”

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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.”

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