Navy Probes Death of Civilian Personnel Allegedly Beaten by Naval Officers

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Nigerian Navy, yesterday, said launched an investigation into the death of a civilian staff of the Ministry of Defence attached to Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital (NNRH) Ojo, Lagos.

A statement by the Director of Information, Commodore Adams Aliu, on behalf of the Chief of the Naval Staff, said on March 31, 2024, the deceased was found lifeless in his office at NNRH.

The statement said preliminary investigation revealed that four days earlier, on  March 26, 2024, the deceased was involved in an altercation with a civilian lady and some NN personnel in Navy Town barracks.

“The Nigerian Navy (NN) is deeply saddened by the demise of Mr Ifeanyi Richard Onumaegbu and the circumstances surrounding his death.
“The NN wishes to inform the general public that the deceased was an integral part of the NN family as a civilian staff of the Ministry of Defence attached to the Laboratory Department of the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital (NNRH) Ojo, Lagos since 2009 and he served meritoriously.

“On 31 March 2024, he was found lifeless in his office at NNRH. A preliminary investigation revealed that four days earlier, on 26 March 2024, the deceased was involved in an altercation with a civilian lady and some NN personnel in Navy Town barracks.

“Consequently, all suspected personnel and the civilian lady involved in the previous altercation were identified and are currently under close custody.
“The NN has facilitated the movement of the deceased’s body to a reputable government hospital in Lagos based on the request of the family for an autopsy.
“The NN further wishes to assure his family and general public that all necessary measures are being taken to unravel the cause of death and any person found culpable would be prosecuted according to extant laws,” it said.

The late personnel was said to have been battered and brutalised for several hours from 8pm on March 26 to 1am of March 27 by four naval personnel.
The personnel were alleged to have been mobilised by a female civilian, who had severally bullied the deceased.
Richard was said to have died in his office following the injuries he sustained from the beating by the naval personnel.
His death had since triggered an online campaign with the hashtag #justice for Richard.