A relation of the deceased soldier had told SaharaReporters on Sunday that the lifeless body of Captain Bazza, who recently became a father, was found hanging from a tree in a bush on Saturday night.
The Nigerian Army has said it has commenced investigation into the alleged suicide case of one of its captains identified as Alphonsus Alexander Kalthy Bazza.
A relation of the deceased soldier had told SaharaReporters on Sunday that the lifeless body of Captain Bazza, who recently became a father, was found hanging from a tree in a bush on Saturday night.
The family source described his 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 source said, “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.”
Reacting to this, the army in a statement released via X(formerly) described the captain’s sudden demise as unfortunate, adding that the he 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.
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… pic.twitter.com/pCZtHRQ9Wy
— Nigerian Army (@HQNigerianArmy) November 14, 2023
The statement continued: “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 sympathises 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 organisation 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.
“The Division wishes to inform the general public that the issue is being thoroughly investigated and the public will be duly informed on the outcome of the investigation.”