Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, Chief of Army Staff.
By Goodluck Ikiebe.
The Nigerian Army (NA), has condemned what it described as “the gruesome, barbaric and most despicable manner in which members of the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network(ESN) murdered in cold blood, two soldiers Master Warrant Officer (MWO) Audu M Linus (retired) and Private(Pte)Gloria Matthew,”
Army Spokesman, Brig. General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the soldiers were on transit to Imo state for their traditional wedding, apparently to fulfill the traditional rites of conjugating their
matrimony, as the very well respected and cherished Igbo tradition demands.
Master Warrant Officer Audu Linus,rtd, and Pte Gloria Matthew
“Ironically, the fact that one of the soldiers, Pte Gloria Matthew, who hails from Nkwerre LGA of Imo state, has an ethnic affiliation with the good people of South East, Nigeria did not prevail on the sensibility of the dissidents,” said Nwachukwu, adding that,
“This dastardly act,” according to the statement, one too many, “clearly portends the deep seated hate, desperation and lawlessness with which foot soldiers of IPOB/ESN have been unleashing terror on Ndigbo, whom they claim they are on a mission to protect and emancipate, as well as other innocent Nigerians, who are resident or transiting the South East.
“This gruesome murder, in which they did not spare even their own child, clearly depicts callousness, impenitence and is indisputably, a brazen act of terrorism perpetrated by IPOB/ESN.
“Though the dissident groups have continued to live in denial, while masquerading as unknown gunmen in their criminal violent campaign in the region, the NA will ensure the perpetrators of this dastardly act unleashed on its personnel do not go unpunished. While we deeply condole with the families, relations and close associates of the victims”, it stated.
The statement noted that the NA has commenced investigation to unmask and bring the criminals to book.
