The operatives of the Nigerian Army have reportedly arrested and tortured to death a Benue resident identified as Ernest Owoicho, who hails from the Ugbokpo community in the Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, while they allegedly mistook him to be one Victor Otache.
According to information released to the Press by the deceased’s elder brother, Apochi Owoicho, the incident occurred on Saturday, 5th April 2025. He reported that on the said date around 1:50 pm, soldiers drove in with their Hilux, in the company of a young man identified as Ijada Obodonbodon, who pointed at Ernest to the military personnels.
They immediately whisked him away and took him to their camp without giving him the previlage of fair hearing, they allegedly tortured him until he passed away in their hand. The Soldiers hastely deposited his corps in the mortuary, labelling it Victor Otache, who they supposed was the one they arrested.
The late Ernest Owoicho’s brother further narrated that when they got the information about his brother’s death and went to enquire from the Soldiers, they quickly dismissed him without giving him an explanation of what had happened, which prompted their family to report the matter to the police and their local government chairman, who then initiated investigation.
Part of his report reads “Last week Saturday, that is on 05/04/25 at about 1:50pm, the army came with their Hilux, including one guy called Ijada Obodonbodon. He was also inside the vehicle with them, and the boy is the one who pointed at my brother,”
“They took him to their camp, beat him to death, and took him to the mortuary without our consent,” Apochi said.
That night, at around 11pm, I received a call from a friend in Makurdi about my brother’s death. “I went to the army camp to inquire, but they told me nothing had happened,” Apochi said.
“After contacting the mortician and learnt that the body brought by the soldiers was listed as Victor Otache. “I was confused because my own person is Ernest Owoicho, not Victor Otache,”
The following day, myself and others visited the mortuary and confirmed Ernest’s identity through signs of abuse on his body. “Blood everywhere,” Apochi added
“We reported the case to the police and the local government chairman comrade Adams Ochega. They sent military police to our LG for proper investigation. They came to the house also,”
As at the time of filling this report, no official statement has been made by the spokesman of the Nigerian Army concerning the incident.
