From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Nigerian Navy, yesterday, said it has arrested three of personnel and a civilian woman over their alleged involvement in the assault that led to the death of a Microbiologist, Iheanyi Onumegbu, 33, at the NN Reference Hospital (NNRH) in Ojo, Lagos.
The deceased, until his death, was a civilian staff of the Ministry of Defence attached to the naval hospital. He was allegedly beaten in Navy Town barracks by four naval personnel at the instance of the yet-to-be-named female civilian, who allegedly bullied him constantly each time he went to check on the dog he was looking after for an officer on posting outside Lagos.
Sadly, Onumegbu, who would have clocked 34 years on May 22, was said to have been awarded the best junior civilian staff at the NNRH in 2019 and was loved by his bosses and co-workers for being dutiful.
Director, Naval Information, Commodore Adams-Aliu, who confirmed the arrest in a statement, said: “The Nigerian Navy (NN) is deeply saddened by the demise of Mr Ifeanyi Richard Onumaegbu and the circumstances surrounding his death. The NN wishes to inform the general public that the deceased was an integral part of the NN family as a civilian staff of the Ministry of Defence attached to the Laboratory Department of the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital (NNRH) Ojo, Lagos, since 2009 and he served meritoriously. On March 31, 2024, he was found lifeless in his office at NNRH. A preliminary investigation revealed that four days earlier, on March 26, 2024, the deceased was involved in an altercation with a civilian lady and some NN personnel in Navy Town barracks.
Consequently, all suspected personnel and the civilian lady involved in the previous altercation were identified and are currently under close custody. The NN has facilitated the movement of the deceased’s body to a reputable government hospital in Lagos based on the request of the family for an autopsy. The NN further wishes to assure his family and general public that all necessary measures are being taken to unravel the cause of death and any person found culpable would be prosecuted according to extant laws.