The House of Representatives on Wednesday moved to probe alleged gruesome murder of 18years old Cyril Obruche by an officer attached Presco, a company located in Delta State.
To this end, the House in session directed the Chief of Army Staff to forthwith redeploy the officers and men of the Nigerian Army attached to Presco Plc in Ovre-Eko community in Ethiope East LGA of Delta State.
This was sequel to a promoted by Hon Ben Ibakpa(PDP-Delta) under ‘Matters of Public Importance on the need to investigate the gruesome murder of 18years old Cyril Obruche by an army officer attached to Presco Plc at Ovreeko Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.
The House granted is four prayers which include to:
“Direct the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the Presco Plc immediately remove the Gate it erected across the farm access road in the affected community to forestall further breakdown of law and order.
“Direct the management of Presco Plc to compensate the deceased family without delay.
“Direct the House Committee on Army to appraise why officers and men of the Nigerian Army are drafted to guard a private company knowing fully well that they are overstretched to meet the security demands of the country and also investigate the circumstances that led to the gruesome murder of Master Cyril Obruche and report back within 2 weeks.
Earlier in his submission, Ibakpa stated that:
“on 28th March, 2022, an Army Officer attached to Presco Plc shot dead in broad day light, a-18 years old Cyril Obruche, a secondary school student of Delta Steel Company (DSC) Staff School, Ovwian – Aladja, Delta State.
He notee that “Presco Plc without recourse to the community and the relevant government agencies in the State unilaterally erected a Gate on the only access road constructed by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to enable the community access their farms for their livelihood.
Stressing that “the deceased with several members of the Ovre-Eko community in Ethiope East LGA of Delta State had on the fateful day visited the Management of Presco Plc to complain over the Gate as obstructing their access to their farms and requested that the company should remove the said gate from the road or create an alternative road for them.
He explained that while discussions were on going, an Army officer attached to the Company brought out his AK-47 Rifle and shot the deceased – Cyril Obruche (who died on the spot).
“The actions of the Army officer triggered spontaneous protests and demonstrations by members of the community which led to breakdown of law and order.
He expressed worry that why the Army Officer in apparent display of raw power shot dead a harmless citizen of this country with impunity and without legal justification.
“Despite the spite of insecurity in the country, officers and men of the Nigerian Army are stationed at a peaceful community and attached to a private company, Presco Plc – a palm oil producing company that purchases fresh fruit bunches and palm kernel from farmers, whereas such officer(s) ought to have been deployed to trouble spots of the country requiring army personnel to help combat insurgency and secure the lives and property of the people.
“Believes that unless appropriate machineries are put in place to unravel why officers and men of the Nigerian Army are posted to guard private
companies when their services are urgently needed elsewhere and also thoroughly investigate the circumstances that led to the gruesome murder of Master Cyril Obruche by the said Army officer with a view to bring the culprit(s) to book, the security of lives and property of the once peaceful
Ovre-Eko community in Ethiope East LGA of Delta State may no longer be guaranteed.