…Navy Confirms Incident, Assures of Addressing Matter
The Onumegbu family is demanding justice for their late son, Mr. Richard Onumegbu, who they allege was brutally killed by Naval officers.
Richard, a 33-year-old civilian staff member of the Nigerian Ministry of Defence for 15 years, tragically met his demise after enduring a brutal seven-hour beating on the 26th of March 2024.
The family’s emotional plea for justice was shared in a widely circulated video on social media, shedding light on the distressing circumstances surrounding Richard’s untimely death.
But on Saturday, April 6, in an exclusive interview with Africa Health Report (AHR), Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, Director, Naval Information, acknowledged the incident and assured that the Nigerian Navy was taking decisive steps to address the situation.
He stated, “The Nigerian Navy is aware of the incident. The young man has worked with us for a long time, and we consider him part of the Navy family. “We are actively addressing this matter, and details of our actions will be made known soon.”.
Africa Health Report recalls that a confrontation had ensued with a resident in the compound where dogs were kept. It escalated into a physical altercation, during which Richard was accused of assaulting the woman.
Subsequently, five Naval staff arrived at the scene and, without hearing Richard’s side of the story, proceeded to brutally beat him, causing extensive injuries.
In a heart-wrenching statement, the family expressed their grief and the need for justice, saying, “All we want now is justice because there’s no amount of tears that can bring Richard back to life. We want justice. The Nigerian Navy failed him while he was alive. We pray they don’t fail him now that he’s dead.”
The family’s quest for justice has been met with obstacles, as they claimed that the Nigerian Navy has been uncooperative and unwilling to provide information about the investigation into Richard’s death.
