Nelson Chidiebere
The Headquarters, 6 Division, Nigerian Army (NA), Port Harcourt, has reacted to reports making the rounds in the media that one of its personnel identified as Lieutenant Alphonsus Alexander Kalthy Bazza, reportedly committed suicide in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
Army, in a statement signed by the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Major Danjuma Jonah, said 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.
This came as a reaction from a publication by SaharaReporters on Sunday, 12 November, wherein a relation of the deceased soldier alleged that his lifeless body was found dangling on a tree in a bush on Saturday night.
According to the publication, the family source described the death as ‘mysterious and suspicious,’ adding that the cause of death had not been ascertained as he left no suicide note for either his wife, elder sister or any other member of his family.
The family member was quoted thus: “How can a Captain in the army hang himself with a mosquito net that he used to sleep? He didn’t have any reason to kill himself. Did he kill somebody? No! So why would he just kill himself? He lost his tent mate under mysterious circumstances when he was in Yobe.
“He got married in 2017 and he has only one child – a boy.”
But, Major Danjuma, in the statement, explained that on 11 November 2023, the officer was not seen at the Step-up Headquarters, all efforts to reach him proved abortive, saying that a search was launched in the general area, and his lifeless body was discovered.
He stressed that the NA remains a professional organization that places a high premium on the welfare of its troops, emphasising that the NA would not take the demise of any of its personnel in any controversial circumstance for granted.
The statement reads in part: “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.
“For the records, on 11 November 2023, the officer was not seen at the Step-up Headquarters, and 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 Division 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.”
