Umuahia, the Abia State capital was thrown into a sober mood on Tuesday morning after tens of protesters, dressed in an all-black attire and carrying placards, moved round the city, chanting sorrowful songs to demand for an investigation into the alleged drowning of a Naval cadet in a swimming pool of a hotel in the city.
The deceased, Emmanuel Onyeomereneche, an Okwuta-Ibeku, Umuahia North LGA born Cadet Officer, was reportedly found dead in the swimming pool of the Hotel Royal Damgrate, Umuahia recently.
Locals from the victim’s Okwuta-Ibeku community took their protest match to the Governor’s office, where they were met by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Navy Commander Macdonald Uba (Rtd.).
The protesters are alleging foul play in the death of their son, accusing a friend of the deceased, identified as one Valentine Okpechi and management of the Hotel of complacency and cover up.
Spokesperson to the Okwuta-Isieke Autonomous Community, Chibuzor Onwukamuche, and the Head of the victim’s family, James Onyeomereneche as well as the community Woman leader, Happiness Ebere, insisted that the late Emmanuel Onyeomereneche with his training as an upcoming Naval officer could not have drowned in an ordinary swimming pool.
Addressing the protesters, the Governor’s Security Adviser assured the people that the State government would ensure that thorough investigations would be carried out to unravel the cause of the death.
Uba said, whoever that was found culpable would surely be brought to book.
He described the incident as unfortunate, promising to bring the matter to the attention of the Governor, while sympathizing with the immediate family and entire people of Okwuta -Ibeku community over the death.
“It is unfortunate that a Cadet Officer of the Nigeria Defence Academy was found dead in a swimming pool in Damgrate. We know how much it takes the Federal government to train one cadet officer.”
“We have listened to your complaints. And we will take measures to brief His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Abia State on the matter. Whatever has happened has happened. We leave it to God, but proper investigation will be carried out to ensure that if there were perpetrators of this act, it will be unraveled.”
The Special Adviser commended the protesters for not taken the laws into their hands, urging the people to remain calm and await for the outcome of the investigation which he said would be made public.
A family source told ait.live that the late Naval Cadet officer, Emmanuel Onyeomereneche was due to be commissioned in July this year, before his tragic death.
Editor: Ken Eseni
