My son was murdered, not drowned — Father of late cadet officer

Five Months after the death of an Air Force Cadet Officer, Emmanuel Chidiebere Onyeomereneche in a swimming pool at Damgrate Hotel Umuahia, on the 9th of April, 2024, the family have continued to plead for justice against those who were fingered in the death of the Cadet, as it is believed that he was murdered and not drowned as insinuated in some quarters.

Speaking to Journalists during a Press Conference in Umuahia, the Father of the deceased, Mr. Ephraim Onyeomereneche disclosed that an autopsy was conducted to determine the true cause of death with the result revealing that Chidiebere was smashed at the back of his head with a heavy metal which broke his skull and lead to blood gushing into his head.

“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”.

According to him, 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 further stated that despite all efforts put together by the Family and the Community to get justice, the Armed forces, the State Government, the Police, as well as the Abia State House of Assembly, have done nothing, as all parties have so far been complacent.

He called for Justice for the late Chidiebere Onyeomereneche.

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