A senior Army officer, Lieutenant Alphonsus Alexander Kalthy Bazza, has died in mysterious circumstance in Akwa Ibom State. The actual circumstance of the death of Bazza could not be ascertained; some were of the view that the Army officer committed suicide, but the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army said that the death is being investigated.
The Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Major Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, in a statement on Tuesday disclosed that the late officer died while deployed on duty at the 2 Brigade Step-Up Headquarters for Exercise STILL WATERS III at Essien Udim Local Government of Akwa Ibom State.
While dismissing media report that the demised soldier committed suicide because of poor welfare, Major Danjuma stated that “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 Nigerian Army, therefore, urged “the media to refrain from publishing narratives suggestive of complicity in his unfortunate demise”.
Danjuma stated that the Nigerian Army 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.
He added that there are regimental precepts through which such occurrences are handled in the Nigerian Army.
The full statement reads:
Nigerian Army
@HQNigerianArmy
RE- NIGERIAN ARMY CAPTAIN REPORTEDLY COMMITTED SUICIDE IN AKWA IBOM
The attention of Headquarters, 6 Division, Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to a publication making the rounds in the media over the unfortunate demise of Lieutenant Alphonsus Alexander Kalthy Bazza. The late officer died while deployed on duty at the 2 Brigade Step-Up Headquarters for Exercise STILL WATERS III at Essien Udim Local Government of Akwa Ibom State.
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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.
The Divsion wishes to inform the general public that the issue is being thoroughly investigated and the public will be dully informed on the outcome of the investigation.
DANJUMA JONAH DANJUMA
Major
Acting Deputy Director
6 Division Army Public Relations