Nnaya Eziyi, Umuahia
The Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police have both denied reports that three persons where killed when soldiers invaded the home of Nnamdi Kanu , the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Umuahia, Abia State capital. The IPOB however claims that five persons were killed and about 30 others were injured in the attack.
But the army and police statements issued by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations,14 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Ohafia, Major Gbadamasi Oyegoke and the Police Public Relations Officer, Abia State Command , Geofrrey Ogbonna, which were obtained by our correspondent, paints a different picture, stating that a soldier, a police corporal and a female passerby were injured during the unprovoked attack by IPOB members.
“The attention of 14 Brigade Nigerian Army, has been drawn to fictitious news going round especially on the social media that troops have invaded the home of Nnamdi Kanu and killed 3 persons” Oyegoke said.
He said it was a group of suspected IPOB militants that blocked the road against troops of 145 Battalion while on show of force along FMC-Word Bank Road in Umuahia town, at about 6.00-6.30pm on Sunday.
“They insisted that the military vehicles would not pass and started pelting the soldiers with stones and broken bottles to the point of injuring an innocent female passerby and a soldier, Corporal Kolawole Mathew” he said.
Explaining further, the Army spokes man maintained that, “The troops fired warning shots in the air and the hoodlums dispersed. No life was lost.”
Oyegoke, who advised the public to disregard the reports, added that both the soldier and the passerby have been evacuated to the unit’s Medical Inspection Room and are receiving treatment.
According to him “We would like to use this opportunity to warn mischief makers threatening the peace and security of the country through falsehood such as above.”
On his part, Ogbonnaya confirmed that, “there was a clash between the military who claimed they were test driving their repaired APC and members of the IPOB at Afara, the community where the IPOB leader resides.
“During the clash, a Policeman was given machete cut on his head and back, one of the Soldiers on the military APC, attached to FOB Umuahia was injured in his left wrist and one Mrs Grace Nwokeukwu of Umuobasi lsiama Afara, Umuahia also had a matchet cut on the head” he noted.
Stating that the victims were taken to Police Clinic Umuahia for treatment, he added the situation had since been brought under control.
Photo of a member, IPOB claims was injured in the attack
Speaking to some journalists at his hometown in Afaraukwu Umuahia, Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader, said the military with their siren woke him up from sleep when they tried to invade his residence on Sunday.
He said: “I want you to report this accurately and stop relying on the lies of the Nigerian military because they are liars. “This incident happened right here, they drove from that way with their baring siren that woke me up from my siesta… And they went that way to that junction, they reversed; their armored car reversed and came back here. It wanted to come in and then started firing at people.
“They came here to the window of my bedroom and the front gate of father’s compound. As we speak right now, they are in Aba road. Firing live ammunition to scare people, terrorize people in this very peaceful village. That is what Nigeria is doing and the world must know about it.”
Recently the Army announced preparations to launch combat-ready personnel for a special operation, code-named Egwu-Eke 11 (Python Dance 11) in the five states of the zone.
The focus of the exercise would be focused on raids, cordon and search operations, anti-kidnapping drills, road blocks, check points, patrols, humanitarian relief activities such as medical outreach and show of force to curb the rising threat to national security in the South Eastern part of the country, according to Chief of Training and Operations, Maj.-Gen D.D. Ahmadu, who represented the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai at the weekend news briefing.
