Nigerian Army has reacted to the reported suicide by its officer, Lieutenant Alphonsus Alexander Kalthy Bazza, in Essien Udim Local Government, Akwa Ibom state.
Reports had claimed that the family of Bazza found his lifeless body hung on a tree with a mosquito net on Saturday night.
In a statement on Tuesday by Major Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, the Army said the issue was being thoroughly investigated and the public would be fully informed on the outcome of the investigation.
“The late officer died while deployed at the 2 Brigade Step-Up Headquarters for Exercise STILL WATERS III at Essien Udim Local Government of Akwa Ibom State.
“For the records, on 11 November 2023, the officer was not seen at the Step-up Headquarters; all efforts to reach him proved abortive. Hence, a search was launched in the general area, and his lifeless body was discovered”.
“For the records, on 11 November 2023, the officer was not seen at the Step-up Headquarters; all efforts to reach him proved abortive. Hence, a search was launched in the general area, and his lifeless body was discovered.
“The Division sympathizes with the deceased officer’s family over his unfortunate demise and wishes to call on the media to refrain from publishing narratives suggestive of complicity in his unfortunate demise.
“The NA remains a professional organization that places a high premium on the welfare of its troops and would not take the demise of any of its personnel in any controversial circumstance for granted. While not joining issues with the media houses propagating this misinformation, it is important to state that there are regimental precepts through which such occurrences are handled in the NA”.