Army dismisses fear over commandant’s death

The Nigerian Army, 2 Division Ibadan, has beefed up security around Command Secondary School, Ibadan, following the death of the school’s commandant,

Brig.-Gen. Usman Yusuf, the Garisson Commander, 2 Division, told newsmen in Ibadan on Tuesday that the security mount was ordered by Brig.-Gen Chukwunedum Abraham, the General Officer Commanding (GOC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the corpse of the deceased was found in front of his apartment in the school premises on Monday morning.

Okeyim, a colonel, has just been promoted to Brigadier-General and was awaiting to be decorated with his new rank.

Yusuf allayed the fear of parents and students of the school, saying the circumstances surrounding the death of Okeyim were under investigation.

“It was unfortunate that we woke up on Monday morning to find the corpse of the late Okeyim in front of his apartment in the school premises.

“The military police were there and we have invited the police too to help in the area of forensic. The GOC has also done an on sight assessment of the situation,” he said.

He debunked speculations that the deceased was slit in the neck to death, saying the corpse was intact without a cut or bullet wound.

Yusuf said that the only discovery was that he bled through the nostril and there was impact on his upper jaw.

He also debunked insinuations of possible power tussle, saying the Second-in-Command to the deceased was a Major and far from his position.

Yusuf added that the Vice Principals of the school were civilians, who had nothing to do with the military hierarchy.

He said that investigation was ongoing to determine the cause of the death, saying such would be revealed in due course after the investigation.