ARMY, POLICE DENY ATTACKING NNAMDI KANU AND KILLING IPOB MEMBERS
The Oasis Reporters
September 11, 2017
The claim by some Indigenous Peoples Of Biafra, IPOB sympathizers that Nigerian Army allegedly invaded Nnamdi Kanu’s home, killed three people with several injured while on Operation Python Dance has been rejected by the security forces in two separate statements by the police and the army.
However, analysts who watched clips of the altercation last weekend submit that the scene was rowdy. They saw no shots fired, at least, on YouTube.
The Army and Police statements are produced here :
NIGERIAN ARMY DID NOT ATTACK ANYBODY NOR KILL ANYONE
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.
You are please requested to disseminate this information to the public through your medium.
Thank you for your kind cooperation.
Major Oyegoke Gbadamosi
Assistant Director Army Public Relations
14 Brigade Nigerian Army
Below is the Police version:
PRESS RELEASE ON 10TH SEPTEMBER, 2017, BY THE ABIA STATE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE.
RE: CLASH BETWEEN THE MILITARY AND IPOB MEMBERS AT AFARA-UKWU, UMUAHIA.
Today 10/09/17 at about 1730hrs, 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.
All the victims were taken to Police Clinic Umuahia for treatment, while the situation has since been brought under control without any loss of life.
SIGNED:
DSP GEOFFREY OGBONNA, ANIPR.
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
ABIA STATE COMMAND.
