Army Denies Torturing UNIBEN Student To Death, Explains What Happened

The Nigerian Army has distanced itself from the death of an undergraduate at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Christian Ehima.

Ezenwoko’s Blog reports that the victim’s mother, Mercy Ehima, had alleged that her son was tortured to death by some soldiers while he was travelling to Ewesa village on Friday, December 10.

Ehima, who is a senior police officer with the Delta State Police Command, claimed that her son died as a result of internal bleeding sustained during the torture.

Reacting to the allegations in a statement on Sunday, Army spokesman, Brig. Gen Onyema Nwachukwu said reports that soldiers tortured the 24-year-old student to death is misleading and false.

Nwachukwu said that reports on social media did not state capture what transpired during the incident, exonerating the Army from the sad incident.

He called on the public to disregard the reports, adding such information was an attempt to bring the Army to disrepute.

The statement read, “While we sympathise with the family of late Christian over this unfortunate incident, it is instructive to put the records in proper perspective, contrary to the misgivings peddled on the social media.

“Incontrovertible evidence indicates that Christian Ehima wandered into a military checkpoint at Wire -Ake in Edo State on December 10, 2021, without his clothes on, and was halted by soldiers on duty.”

Giving the Army’s side of the story, Nwachukwu said upon interrogation, the deceased could not say anything meaningful on where he was coming from or heading.

The Army spokesman disclosed that the deceased’s behaviour was rather weird and indicative of one who was under some sort of influence.

Nwachukwu said the behaviour of the deceased changed on sighting his mother, while some passers-by were thereafter mobilised to help her take him to the hospital.

He said, “The Guard Commander, who observed his abnormal behaviour, immediately requested for his phone in an effort to contact any of his relations, friends or associates.

“Shortly afterwards, a call came through to his phone and the caller identified herself as his mother and a police officer and was invited to pick up her son, who was still very agitated and unstable.

“When she was briefed about her son’s observed abnormal behaviour, she attributed it to influence of alcohol but the soldiers maintained that whatever was responsible for Christian’s behaviour at that time was way beyond alcohol.

“The incident was recorded both on video and audio, showing the behaviour of Christian Ehima and his mother commending the soldiers for their kind intervention.

“The evidence, including audio recordings of the police officer and her son, are there for all to peruse.”

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