There was tension in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, Sunday when
personnel of the Nigerian Army reportedly clashed with some pro-Biafra
agitators allegedly leading to three people being shot.
The army had been accused by some of the people of being the aggressor as they embarked on a promised show of force in line with the recently announced new phase of Operation Python Dance in the South East region of the country.
Some had accused the military personnel of attempting to force their way into the residential premises of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, but were met with stiff resistance by members of the group.
Speaking to journalists following the incident, Kanu had said, “I was sleeping this evening (Sunday) when suddenly I was woken up by the blaring of sirens. Initially, I thought it was the Commissioner of Police who lives in the neighborhood that was returning home. But the blaring persisted and was followed up by sporadic gun shots.
“The soldiers wanted to bulldoze their way into the palace but IPOB members formed a human shield and resisted them. They wanted to break the shield and fired at three persons and wounded others before leaving. Everybody including children was running away in confusion”.
But the army dispelled the claims in its own reaction.
In a statement signed by Major Oyegoke Gbadamosi, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, it described the claims that troops invaded the home of Kanu and killed three persons as “fictitious”.
It stated that contrary to claims of it being the aggressor, “IPOB militants” initiated the clash by attempting to prevent their free movement within the state capital.
The army went ahead to release pictures of injured ‘passersby’ it said were proof of its claims of IPOB aggression.
The statement read, “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.
“This is far from the truth. Rather, 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, Abia State at about 6.00-6.30pm, today. 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.
“The troops fired warning shots in the air and the hoodlooms dispersed. No life was lost.
“Therefore the public are kindly enjoined to disregard the rumours going round and the fictitious photographs of purported victims of attack. Both the soldier and the innocent female passerby have been evacuated to the unit’s Medical Inspection Room and are receiving treatment.
“We would like to use this opportunity to warn mischief makers threatening the peace and security of the country through falsehood such as above.
“Members of the public are please requested to go about their lawful business and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station or security outfit”.
The army had been accused by some of the people of being the aggressor as they embarked on a promised show of force in line with the recently announced new phase of Operation Python Dance in the South East region of the country.
Some had accused the military personnel of attempting to force their way into the residential premises of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, but were met with stiff resistance by members of the group.
Speaking to journalists following the incident, Kanu had said, “I was sleeping this evening (Sunday) when suddenly I was woken up by the blaring of sirens. Initially, I thought it was the Commissioner of Police who lives in the neighborhood that was returning home. But the blaring persisted and was followed up by sporadic gun shots.
“The soldiers wanted to bulldoze their way into the palace but IPOB members formed a human shield and resisted them. They wanted to break the shield and fired at three persons and wounded others before leaving. Everybody including children was running away in confusion”.
But the army dispelled the claims in its own reaction.
In a statement signed by Major Oyegoke Gbadamosi, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, it described the claims that troops invaded the home of Kanu and killed three persons as “fictitious”.
It stated that contrary to claims of it being the aggressor, “IPOB militants” initiated the clash by attempting to prevent their free movement within the state capital.
The army went ahead to release pictures of injured ‘passersby’ it said were proof of its claims of IPOB aggression.
The statement read, “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.
“This is far from the truth. Rather, 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, Abia State at about 6.00-6.30pm, today. 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.
“The troops fired warning shots in the air and the hoodlooms dispersed. No life was lost.
“Therefore the public are kindly enjoined to disregard the rumours going round and the fictitious photographs of purported victims of attack. Both the soldier and the innocent female passerby have been evacuated to the unit’s Medical Inspection Room and are receiving treatment.
“We would like to use this opportunity to warn mischief makers threatening the peace and security of the country through falsehood such as above.
“Members of the public are please requested to go about their lawful business and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station or security outfit”.
nigeria let my people GO
ReplyDeleteWhat do u mean?, way nnamdi kanu is going about cause trouble here and there is better bah, they should arrest him
ReplyDelete