Umuahia: Outrage Continues To Trail Murder of Hotel Manager By Soldiers

By Charles Igbo

The order by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General  Taoreed Lagbaja for a thorough investigation into the gruesome murder in a  Hotel  in  Umuahia Abia, State, has not calmed down the anger of Nigerians who are calling for the dismissal from the Military and trial of all those allegedly involved.

The manager, Mr Achimugu James Etubi, a native of  Kogi State, in charge of the food and beverage department of the hotel, was allegedly tortured to death by soldiers.

Trouble started when three Cadets went to the Swimming pool of the  Hotel Royal Damgrete, Umuahia, Abia State to swim. But, one of them, an Air Force cadet, identified as CDT Chidiebere, reportedly drowned in the pool.

After Police investigation, the Army invited over four workers of the hotel, including the late Etubi. Sadly, Etubi who had nothing to do with the drowning of the Cadet, just like the three others, died after a harrowing torture meted on him by soldiers, Friday morning, at the  at the military barracks.

The NAF Tarmac Four cadet  reportedly died on Tuesday in the swimming pool.

According to reports which quoted a source who pleaded  anonymity,  “Following, his death the Nigerian Army led by one Major Inuwa who was reportedly investigating the unfortunate incident ordered soldiers including one of the Cadet officers who came with late Chidiebere to the hotel swimming pool to beat four hotel staff that were invited for interrogation to stupor.

“The Nigerian Air Force Tarmac Four cadet was identified as Cadet Chidiebere. The death of the cadet officer drew the attention of the state police and it made them begin investigation.

“In the process of investigating the death of the cadet officer, four persons were taken by the Nigeria Police Force for investigations, Mr. James Etubi inclusive. They were detained for a night and were released on bail. But a few days later, the military officers led by one Maj. Inuwa particularly, was said to have invited four persons including Mr James Etubi for further investigations, and threatened the owner of the hotel Mr. Steve Ihendigbo, to release the workers to the army or have his hotel damaged.

“The owner of the hotel now went against the police’s instructions to release them to the military just to save his hotel from attack.

“When Mr. Steve was contacted after the killing of the manager he was scared to give full details for fear of the Nigerian military.

“The family, wife, and kids of the deceased are calling on Nigerians and relevant agencies to join voice and forces for justice in this inhuman treatment that led to the loss of life of Mr. Etubi.”

The  hotel owner, Mr Steve  said  “The Cadet officer came with two others. Two were cadet officers and a navy trainer. They came and parked their vehicle. We don’t know what happened because the deceased Cadet officer didn’t swim in the swimming pool. The next thing the other cadet officer started shouting that their college had drowned. We invited the police and fire service to pump out the water in the swimming pool but they didn’t do anything.

“To our greatest surprise, for about four hours he was reportedly inside the water, his stomach did not swell, and water didn’t come out from his mouth or nose.

“So, the policemen took the body took the body to the morgue and took four of my staff to their station. They didn’t come back till the following morning being Wednesday when they released. The police instead of interrogating the two military personnel that came with the deceased officer, were shading them.

“So, when my staff returned some soldiers led by a lady military police came demanding that they (four staff) should come to their office. In the morning Friday, the four staff went there before even 8 am.

“According to my staff, when they got to the barracks, the lady military police officer ordered soldiers to torture them. One of the cadet officers that was with the late Chidiebere whom we suspect knows what killed his colleague carried a stick with other soldiers and beat brutally. James could not withstand it he collapsed. Seeing what they had done the lady military police officer got a tricycle and told him to take his body back to the hotel.

“Other staff who had already been badly assaulted were telling them that the man was dying. They chased them out with the tricycle operator they had already paid. Instead of coming to the hotel, they begged the tricycle operator to take him to the hospital. When they got to the federal medical center Umuahia, he was pronounced dead”