Nearly two years after Nigerian Air Force cadet Emmanuel Chidiebere Onyeomereneche was brutally murdered and found in the swimming pool of Hotel Royale Damgrate in Umuahia on April 9, 2024, his family has criticized the Nigeria Police Force for failing to act despite a formal directive from the Police Service Commission (PSC) to reopen the investigation.
The cadet’s father, Mr. Ephraim Onyeomereneche, said his efforts across government agencies, human rights groups, and the media have yielded no results. The PSC had instructed the Inspector-General of Police to conduct a “thorough and transparent investigation,” including revisiting the crime scene, but almost two years later, no progress has been reported.
Autopsy reports confirmed that the cadet died from cranial injuries and blunt force trauma, contradicting initial claims of accidental drowning. The family noted further complications, including the suspicious death of a hotel staff member who witnessed the crime and alleged protection of certain military and police suspects, which hindered accountability.
Human rights advocates say the case highlights a broader accountability crisis within Nigeria’s security system, where families often struggle for credible investigations or prosecutions. Mr. Onyeomereneche is now calling directly on the Inspector-General of Police to implement the PSC’s directive and bring the perpetrators to justice.
