A soldier, Lance Corporal Benjamin Collins, who was confirmed dead as a result of alleged torture by three senior officers at the Mogadishu Barracks, Abuja, in 2017 has been laid to rest. The military sources have affirmed.
It can be recalled that as a result of the death of the Soldier, the Army headquarters Garrison arrested Major. Akeem Oseni, Major. Ogbemudia Osawe, and 2nd Lieutenant Nuhu Dogary and they were all sentenced to ’10 years’ imprisonment for torturing Collins to death.
In fact, one of the officers who attempted to escape from the Army headquarters Garrison detention cell was arrested at one of the nation’s borders.
Lance Corporal Collins was buried with full military honours at the Guards Brigade Cemetery located after Lungi Barracks, along Kubwa Expressway, Abuja.
Mother of the late soldier, Mrs Kate Dioma; the uncle, Justice Daniel Isiagor of the Federal High Court; lawyer, Dr Johnson Oyewole; and representatives of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai attended the burial.
Representing President Muhammadu Buhari, Lt. Col. S. Shuaibu presented the national flag to the mother of the deceased.
Barr. Oyewole, who stood for the soldier at the military court-martial commend the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai and the Army Headquarters Garrison for approving the funeral.
A General Court-Martial (GMC) had in February found the officers guilty of manslaughter.
The GMC comprised of the President, Maj. Gen. G. Umelo who is now GOC 81 division, Brig. Gen. S. Aliyu; Brig. Gen, A. Edet; Brig. N. Mohammed; and Cols. K. Ndamadu, T. Agbor, and I. Tanko.
The convicts were said to have moved Collins from a guardroom at Mogadishu Barracks to a bush near the Ihejirika Quarters along the Abuja-Nyanya Expressway, where he was assaulted while in handcuffs and leg chains.
Collins, who hailed from Rivers State, died after the assault, which took place on February 23, 2017, and his corpse was deposited in Asokoro General Hospital morgue.