The reported shootings in the homestead of leader of Independent People Of Biafra (IPOB) along FMC-Word Bank Road in Umuahia town, Abia State has seen the Nigerian Army and the from fighters exchanging words.
In its own version, IPOB members uploaded a video that has gone viral online where a wounded member was being ferried to the hospital. He was allegedly shot by the Nigerian Army.
According to one Nnaji Obed Asiegbu who uploaded the video on his Facebook page on Sunday evening, “Nigerian Army has no business going into Nnamdi Kanu’s enclave. I’m from Umuahia and that video makes the action of the army look ridiculous.
“They left the major Aba road into an alley way leading into Nnamdi Kanu’s family compound. The Nigerian Army in this case, acted out of order. The army doesn’t have the moral right to provoke unarmed citizens.
“IPOB members didn’t cross the red line and for that reason, the Nigerian army has classified the army as the belligerent force acting against some unarmed masses.
(Check video here https://web.facebook.com/namosky/videos/10155904183924238/ )
However, in a swift reaction, the Nigerian Army in a release from the office of the Assistant Director Army Public Relation, 14 Brigade, Major Oyegoke Gbadamosi, the Army denied shooting anybody.
It also claimed that one Corporal Kolawole Mathew and an innocent female passerby were ‘pelted with stones’ (Check pictures).
Read the full text of the Army’s statement:
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.
Thank you for your kind cooperation.
Packaged by Alice Egbedele
