The 14 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Ohafia in Abia, has vowed to fish out the soldier who allegedly killed a civilian, Mr Chukwunonso? Ifedi, in Aba.
Chukwunonso, 35, was allegedly clubbed to death by a runaway soldier in a hotel on April 6 in Aba.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Lt. Olabisi Ayeni, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ohafia, Bende Local Government of the state that the army would not spare any soldier found to have committed the act.
He said the army had also commenced full investigation to fish out the soldier.
“We are trying to find out what happened, that is if a soldier was involved or was impersonated. It is still an allegation for now. The police are already investigating the matter to get the culprit.
“We too are doing all we can to get at the soldier involved because we don’t hide such person or persons. We are also allowing the police to conclude their investigations so we know what next to do.
“If at the end we discover it was a soldier that committed the crime, we will parade him before the public,’’ he said.
The spokesman said the army was already improving its relationship with civilians and would not entertain any “black sheep in the barracks’’ to rubbish it.
He assured the people that any soldier found culpable would be exposed and dealt with accordingly.
Meanwhile, Mr Okechukwu Ifedi, the father of the deceased from Ogidi in Anambra, has appealed to the law enforcement agents not to sweep the matter under the carpet.
He told NAN that he got the information of Chukwunonso’s death through a phone call the following morning, and lamented that the deceased ate with members of the family before setting out to a nearby hotel to relax with friends.
Mr Emmanuel Okafor, the director of the hotel, confirmed that he called the police, informing them about the incident.
?