Defence Headquarters Investigates Troops’ Role in Death of Hotel Worker After Questioning

The Defence Headquarters has launched a probe of military personnel who interrogated four hotel staff where a cadet of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) died.

The cadet allegedly drowned at Damgrete Hotel Swimming Facility Umuahia, Abia state, on Tuesday, April 9.

The Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, said in a statement on Sunday, April 14, that after the death of the cadet, troops of Operation UDO KA in Abia state invited four staff of the hotel for interrogation to “ascertain the actual cause of his death.”

According to him, after questioning, the staff were released to go.

He said: “As of when they were released, nothing happened to any of them. They all left for their destination unharmed, hail and healthy.

“However, information later received from the Hotel was that one of the four workers invited for the questioning complained of his health and was rushed to Federal Medical Center Umuahia where he was confirmed dead on arrival.

“While it is heartbreaking and unfortunate to hear about the news of the demise of one of the staff, Operation UDO KA as a professional military organisation that operates within the ambit of the laws, has arrested all personnel involved in the interrogation process and preliminary investigation ongoing to ascertain the actual cause of death of the said hotel staff.”

While condoling the family of the deceased hotel staff, the military assured the family “that if any of its personnel is found culpable in the death of the manager, such personnel will face the full wrath of the law as no stone will be left unturned to unravel the actual circumstances that led to his death.”