The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Enugu State chapter, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Nigerian Army to fish out its personnel that reportedly killed, Master Eneh Chinemerem, a senior student of the Command’s Secondary School.
The students’ body sternly warned that after the expiration of the ultimatum, if the culprit wasn’t brought to face justice as the law demands, they would shut down the school and the 82 Division of Nigerian Army.
One of the eye witnesses who pleaded anonymity to newsmen alleged that a soldier, identified as Lieutenant Nweke, flogged Master Eneh, an SS1 student several times on the head and inflicted severe injuries on him for not cutting his hair.
Shortly after, his head reportedly got swollen and he was moved to several hospitals before he died as a result few days later.
His mother, Adaeze Chibuzo had taken to Nkanu People of Enugu State Nigeria Facebook platform to share the news with the pictures of the deceased showing a swollen head before his demise.
The Nigerian students’ body, in statement on Tuesday, decried the ill- treatment and military brutalisation that led to the death of Master Eneh as uncalled for and unacceptable in a modern society, while demanding a thorough investigation.
NANS in the statement signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Comr. Ikechukwu Emmanuel Obi and Comr. Chinonso Emmanuel respectively regretted that the dreams and aspirations of the young boy had been dashed by the unprofessional conduct of a Nigerian soldier.
The statement partly reads, “It is with bitterness and utter disappointment that the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Enugu State frowns at the inhuman actions meted on Master ENEH CHINEMEREM which later claimed his life.
“The suspect, Sir Nweke (as the students fondly called him) is a staff of Command Day Secondary School Enugu. It was reported that the deceased, Master Chinemerem Eneh – an SS2 Student of the same school was caught by the suspect on the 19/05/2022 for not having a clean haircut, brutalised the student with a stick.
“Chinemerem is a Nigerian student probably the future Samuel Chukwueze. Probably, this boy would have been the future SUG President of the almighty University of Nigeria, or probably the next Senator Representing Enugu West Senatorial District, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi or the next Bill Gates.
“But all his dreams and aspirations have been dashed into the thin air by the unprofessional conduct of Sir Nweke.
“At this point the National Association of Nigerian Students [NANS] Enugu State demands from the GOC 82 Division and the Government of Enugu State to immediately bring the culprit to law and visit the deceased family for immediate considerations and consolations.
“NANS Enugu also makes it clear here to state that over 30million Nigerian Students will have no option than to mobilise and shut down 82 Division if the GOC and the Government of Enugu State delay within seven working days to respond to this sad reality as we have demanded above.”