Mysterious Death Of Soldier Leads Family To Suspect Military Cover-Up

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The mysterious circumstances of his death
has lead his father Charles Edim to claim
soldiers with the 144th Battalion are
conspiring to cover up the truth.


The family of Lieutenant Benjamin Edim have
been lamenting his death since he was gruesomely
shot dead on Sunday July 26th of this year by
fellow soldiers of the 144th Battalion.

Soldiers
attached to the 144th Battalion in Asa, Abia
State shot Lt. Edim dead during the rescue of an
unknown victim who had been kidnapped in
Ogunabor Local Government Area (LGA).


Prior to his death, Lt. Edim was the Head of
Administration of the 144th Battalion, a position
well known by all soldiers serving with him.

However, the mysterious circumstances of his
death has lead his father Charles Edim to claim
soldiers with the 144th Battalion are conspiring to
cover up the truth.

Lt. Edim’s father told the media that he received
information from one soldier from the 144th
Battalion that the deceased “was generally
viewed by most of his colleagues as being too
dedicated, strict, and uncompromising in the
discharge of his lawful official assignments.”

Authorities at the 144th Battalion told the family
that Lt. Edim had been killed by friendly fire
because his own soldiers did not recognize him
during the rescue operation.

His father asserted that the military concocted a
false story about the death of his son.

The suspicious events surrounding Lt. Edim’s
death began when he was forced to drive himself
alone to the rendezvous point with his fellow
soldiers, which is not standard operating
procedure because he is entitled to a driver.

It
was when he arrived at the rendezvous point that
he was fired upon by soldiers of the 144th
Battalion, who claim that they did not recognize
him.

The father also stated that “according to Lt. Col.
K U. Sidi of the 144
Battalion Asa, Abia State, he said kidnap
rescue operations are routine in which even
himself used to be involved in at some times. In
such a regular routine operation how could the
soldiers not recognize their Adjutant?"
It should also be noted that Lt. Edim was shot in
broad daylight, 12:30pm according to sources. It
was also learned that when Lt. Edim was not in
possession of his weapon when his body arrived to
the mortuary, which according to the family
contradicts reports they received from the
military.
The father stated that his lead him to believe that
the military and soldiers of the 144th Battalion
are culpable for Lt. Edim’s death and have lied to
cover up death of his son.

It turns out that Lt. Edim had been shot six times
in the mid-chest region. His body also showed
evidence of lacerations and bruises on both his
upper and lower limbs, leading the family to
suspect foul play.
The family have requested that the human rights
community investigate the death of Lt. Edim and
provide closure for them given their suspicions.
They are also calling for the military authorities
at the 82nd Division of the Nigerian Army, and
the Chiefs of Army and Defense, to investigate
this matter and the conduct of members of the
144th Battalion.

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