Posted by By ROSE EJEMBI, Makurdi on
Twenty ex-service men have been confirmed dead in the just concluded 21-day screening exercise by the newly created National Pension Commission in Benue State.
Twenty ex-service men have been confirmed dead in the just concluded 21-day screening exercise by the newly created National Pension Commission in Benue State.
State Chairman of Nigerian Legion, Mr. Joseph Ajaver who made this known while addressing newsmen in Makurdi noted that some of the oldies died as a result of the strenuous experience they went through during the exercise.
The exercise which was rounded off at the Nigerian School of Military Engineering (NASME), Makurdi Sunday was according to Ajaver very stressful for the ex -service men who are mostly in their late sixties and seventies.
Ajaver said three persons died at the venue due to old age, sickness and the vigorous process of the verification exercise while five corpses were brought in coffins to the arena by their families as evidence.
Other cases of death reported to him, he said were those of pensioners who were either on their way to or from the screening venue as a result of accident while many others who survived various accidents, however, sustained injuries.
The chairman, who alleged improper handling of pensioner by soldiers on duty to ensure orderliness during the exercise said the pensioners were too old to go through such rigorous task.
He, however, advised relations of deceased pensioners to exercise patience adding that based on official decision before the commencement of the exercise, they would be paid all the benefits of their loved ones in Abuja on May 23.