RELATIVES of a man who died in military custody on Friday morning are living in absolute fear of more hostile visits and arrests by the military.

This was because the villagers of Nakaulevu Village in Nakelo, Tailevu didn't want to meet the same fate as fellow villager Nimilote Verebasaga who was last seen alive when he was taken by soldiers on Friday morning.

Villagers were still trying to come to terms with the death of Verebasaga a 41 year old surveyor who was woken and taken at 5.41am on Friday.

There are about 30 houses in the village which is about 20 minutes drive to Nausori Town.

Fearing further intimidation by the military, villagers were hesitant to divulge details but said that no reason had been given by the military as to why Verebasaga had been taken away in the first place.

But they believed that it was linked to a land dispute with a neighbouring village.

Verebasaga's cousin and turaga ni koro or village head man Timoci Talaki said all that family members wanted from the military was an explanation as to why he was taken and how he died.

Speaking in Fijian, Mr Talaki said the family was really shaken and upset with Verebasaga's death and were trying to come to terms with it.

He said Verebasaga was the third eldest in a family of nine brothers and sisters and was married with three children.

He said Verebasaga's wife Asinate and their youngest son were in Australia with the Seventh Day Adventist Pathfinders Group for a church organized camp.