My Son Was Poisoned, Broke His Skull In Swimming Pool – Father Of Cadet Officer

Mr. Ephraim Onyeomereneche, the father of 20-year-old late cadet officer of the Nigerian Army, Emmanuel Chidiebere Onyeomereneche, who died at Hotel Royal Damgrete Umuahia, Abia State capital has told ABN TV that his son was poisoned.

Speaking with our correspondent shortly after his burial on Saturday at his hometown, Okwuta Ibeku in Umuahia North LGA Of Abia State, the mourning father of the deceased said his son who died on 9th April 2024 after he was poisoned also hit his head on the wall of the hotel swimming pool, an injury that broke his skull, leading to movement of blood to his brain.

“The autopsy has been conducted on June 29th. It was an open autopsy, and the cause of my late son’s death was known and determined. Chidiebere was poisoned, and then hit at the back of the head in the pool that broke his skull. Blood entered his brain and he died“, he told our correspondent.

He however said he is seeking justice so that those who had a hand in the death of his son will be brought to book.

According to Onyeomereneche, Abia State Government and the State House of Assembly has not offered the needed cooperation to ensure that the family gets justice.

He noted, “Abia state should be responsible. But I ask for justice, the police, the roles they have been playing has not been the best. They should play better roles. We protested to the government house. We protested to the house of assembly.We also protested at Hotel Royal Damgrete.

“The Abia State House of assembly has abandoned the matter. The state pretended to see no evil, heard no evil, and are doing no good.”

He also called on the management of the hotel to take steps to ensure that death of guests that has become a recurrent decimal is brought to an end.

“For Hotel Royal Damgrete, let the death of people discontinued from that hotel. Chidiebere is gone alright, but at the same time, let it not continue.

“It looks like on average of every 4 months or thereabouts, 1 person dies in that hotel. Less than that? I don’t know. Whatever he’s doing that causes those deaths. Let it stop.

“I’ll ask God to fight for me. But for Chidiebere, let him not rest until justice is done. It’s only justice, Nothing else. Just justice. However it will come, let justice be done.”

The emotional father expressed sadness that despite the four years his spent in the defence academy, he was not alive to join his colleagues to mark the graduation ceremony.

“His mates have graduated last month. On the day they were graduating, some of them were sending messages to me. Already, they have graduated. The personnel parade will be next year, but actually, I’ve been suffering for the 4 years without a certificate. It’s not the best.

“It’s not the best. It’s painful. From the days of President Jonathan, the Boko Haram, nothing happened. We survived it, all the stoppings and all the bullets. Only for him to be in the house”, he stressed.