Army Deny Beating Driver To Death…Coroner’s Report Confirms Story

Following the death of a commuter bus driver, Isaac Onaiwu after he was allegedly beaten by soldiers from the Army School of Strategy and Transport (S&T), Benin, which was widely reported by national newspapers on Friday, the Commandant of the School, Brigadier–General Emmanuel Nienge on Friday evening denied the report, saying the late driver was not beaten.

Brig. Gen. Nienge who reacted in a press statement made available to newsmen in Benin City on Friday said: “Driver not beaten. No bruises whatsoever on the body. It was a clear case of accident. Even the driver was ill. At the time the event occurred, he was vomiting. To clear whatever doubt, I have even ordered an autopsy at my own cost. The result will be made known to the public.”

The Commandant blamed journalists for not contacting him before going to press.

But it on record that the Administrative Officer of S & T simply identified as Capt. Uche was contacted on phone by journalists on Thursday afternoon to clarify the report and he refused to comment.

“Why are you calling me? Who gave you my number? There is no such story here. Go back to UBTH,” Capt. Uche shouted back at the caller.

Contrary to the denial of the Commandant that Isaac Onaiwu was not beaten, a coroner’s report on the late bus driver made available to newsmen indicated that “he was brought into the emergency room at 12.00 am (16/5/12) by wife with a GCS of 4 following alleged assault by some soldiers whose car was said to have been involved in an RTA with the deceased vehicle.”

The report added that an assessment of severe traumatic injury with blunt chest trauma was made, and that “urgent cranial CT was done which confirmed intra-cerebral haemorrhage with ventricular extension and he was reviewed by the neurosurgical/neurology teams.”

According to the coronary report, effort to resuscitate Isaac Onaiwu failed as he was certified dead at 2.13pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012 at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

The late Isaac Onaiwu who operated a commuterl bus between the Ugbowo campus of University of Benin and Ring Road, reportedly collided with a vehicle belonging to an Army lieutenant following which he was allegedly beaten at the Army School of Strategy and Supply before he was taken to the Accident and Emergency Ward of the UBTH where he later died.

By Jethro Ibileke/Benin City