Army, family disagree over killing of man in Delta

•Soldier killed a transgression successful self-defence – Army

•Family accuses Army of cover-up, defamation, moves to sue

By Akpokona Omafuaire, Emmanuel Elebeke

CONTROVERSY has continued to way the sidesplitting of Ugochukwu Oghenekaro, who had visited a person on with 2 others connected Sunday, astatine Delta Marine Logistics and Technical, DMLT Estate successful Otokutu, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

While the service successful a connection claimed that a serving worker killed a antheral identified arsenic Ugo successful self-defence combat successful Delta State, the household refuted the military’s claim, accusing the Army of twisting facts, spreading falsehoods, and attempting to debar accountability implicit what it described arsenic an unjustified killing.

The household besides expressed daze that the Nigerian Army would crook astir to statement them arsenic criminals.
The Nigerian Army, successful a connection by the acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations Officer, Capt. Iliyasu Bawa-Rijau, Headquarters 63 Brigade, Asaba, said: “The Headquarters, 63 Brigade, wishes to authorities that a tense confrontation betwixt a worker and a suspected transgression occurred astatine the Delta Marine Logistics and the Technical (DMLT) Estate successful Warri, Delta State, connected October 13, 2025.

“The fracas resulted successful the decease of the suspect, who engaged the worker connected work successful a scuffle, who acted successful self-defence. For the records, the incidental occurred erstwhile the soldier, who was connected work astatine the DMLT Estate gross halted a radical of individuals, who attempted to unit their introduction into the premises without subjecting themselves for checks.

“When the worker questioned the group’s volition and sought to ascertain their identities, the said individuals became assertive and unruly.

“The suspected criminals became convulsive erstwhile asked who they were looking for and wherefore they were trying to participate without clearance.

“The altercation escalated into a carnal conflict wherein the soldier, who acted successful aforesaid defence utilized equipped combat skills and injured 1 of the unruly individuals.

“The injured suspected transgression was rushed to a adjacent infirmary for aesculapian attention, but was pronounced dormant later. Accordingly, Otu-Jeremi Police Division successful Delta State was promptly notified astir the incidental for indispensable action.”

Family accuses Army of cover-up, defamation, moves to sue

But the family, portion reacting to the Army’s claim, done a adjacent comparative of the precocious Oghenekaro, Peace Idirima, who was successful the aforesaid conveyance during the incidental recounted the events surrounding the sidesplitting and condemned the Army’s narrative.

He said: “I americium shocked the Nigerian Army would crook astir and statement america criminals. On Monday, we were invited to the barracks successful the institution of the property management, six radical from america and 3 from the estate. They practically begged america to judge a peaceful colony and not escalate the matter. Now they’ve turned astir to accidental we were trying to unit introduction and attacked a soldier. Where’s the evidence?

“We were accompanying Oghenekaro to conscionable a caterer helium had paid N500,000 to hole a barroom and decorations for his wife’s upcoming day solemnisation erstwhile the tragic incidental occurred. We were unarmed, posed nary threat, and Oghenekaro was unjustly changeable by a worker with a past of convulsive behaviour, arsenic alleged by immoderate residents of the estate.

“When we got to the barracks, they seized our phones to halt america from recording. About six of america were there, on with 3 representatives from the property management. We told them we couldn’t determine connected a colony without consulting our family.

“Now, the aforesaid radical who were begging america for bid are calling america criminals. Did they find immoderate weapons connected us?

“Following the Army’s connection contiguous (yesterday), the household has withdrawn practice from the ongoing constabulary probe and are preparing to prosecute ineligible action. A lawyer has already been engaged today, and the household is gathering documentation including autopsy results, photographs, audio recordings, and the decease certificate to enactment their case.

“We won’t beryllium silenced. Instead of mourning with us, they’re slandering the sanction of an guiltless man. We are done with talks of settlement. Let the courts determine who is telling the truth.”