By Aaior K. Comfort

Ephraim Onyemereneche, father of CDT Emmanuel Chidiebere Onyemereneche, a cadet officer who allegedly drowned in a hotel pool in Umuahia, has accused involved agencies of a “conspiracy of silence” regarding his son’s death.

On April 4, 2024, Emmanuel, who was close to graduating from the National Defence Academy, was reported missing from the pool surface at the hotel. His body was later discovered by the state fire service and confirmed dead at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia.

Following the autopsy, which took place on June 29, 2024, Ephraim has claimed that the results contradicted the initial drowning report. He expressed frustration over the lack of action and transparency from the police, the Nigerian Army, and the Navy, alleging that efforts to investigate the matter have been stymied by a coordinated cover-up.

Ephraim detailed that the autopsy was conducted with numerous witnesses, including police officers, doctors, and Army personnel. However, despite the open procedure, he believes that the findings have been suppressed or ignored by the authorities.

He criticized the response of various bodies, including the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), which has not followed up on his son’s case, and the police, who he claims have failed to act on crucial leads, such as questioning Valentine Obeji, a friend of the deceased.

Ephraim has reached out to multiple officials, including the Chief of Army Staff and the Force Headquarters, without receiving substantive responses. He also noted that local protests and petitions have yet to result in any concrete action or investigation.

The father is calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his son’s death, demanding accountability from all parties involved.