...As Hon. Ojotu calls for investigation
A disturbing incident has sparked widespread outrage in Ugbokpo, the headquarter of Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, where the personnel of the Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) deployed to Apa LGA to protect the people allegedly tortured a young man to death.
The incident has raised concerns about the conduct of security agencies in the area and the need for accountability.
The young man, identified as Ernest Owoicho, was reportedly taken into custody by military personnel on April 5, 2025 and was allegedly subjected to severe physical abuse, resulting in his untimely death.
The news of Owoicho’s demise has sent shockwaves throughout the community, with many expressing outrage and grief over the tragic incident.
The community is demanding a thorough investigation into the incident and calling for those responsible to be brought to justice.
Meanwhile, the member representing Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on National Inland Waterways, Hon. Pst Ojotu Ojema, has condemned the gruesome murder of Owoicho and called on the military to swiftly carry out an investigation to unravel the gruesome murder and bring the perpetrators to book.
The lawmaker called on the people of Apa, especially the youth to remain calm and not to take law into their hands as investigation would be carried out immediately.
The media aid to the Honorable member, Olikita Ekani in a statement Sunday evening said his principal who had to cut short his trip to Abuja on hearing about the unfortunate incident, met with the military authority at Ugbokpo and expressed his displeasure
.”I have the mandate to stand, speak and defend the people of Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency at the National Assembly. There are several civil ways of investigating a case other than torture, more so that we are in the Democratic era. The gruesome murder of this young man is highly condemnable and culprits won’t go unpunished.
“In as much as I stand against any form of criminality, I can not accept the intimidation and unjustifiable killing of my people. An investigation must be carried out immediately and the culprits must be quickly brought to justice”, Ojema told the military.
Responding, the Commander of the military base, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed regret over the death of Owoicho. He stated that the attempted investigation process that led to his death was not intentional.
He assured that an investigation would be carried out immediately to determine the circumstances surrounding Owoicho’s death, adding that the military personnel involved would be brought to justice.
Mr. Peter Ibrama, speaking on behalf of the deceased family, during Hon. Ojema’s visit to them, struggled to hold back tears as he described the tragic events surrounding Owoicho’s death. “Owoicho, a very jovial and gentle boy, was surprisingly arrested by the military on Saturday and the only thing the family saw today, (Sunday) was his tortured corpse”
