The
Nigerian Army has debunked a report that troops of Egwu Eke III, also known as
Operation Python Dance 3, shot or wounded persons in Aba, Abia.
Sagir Musa, Deputy Director, Public Relations,
82 Division of the Nigerian Army, made the denial in a statement in Enugu on
Saturday.
Mr Musa, a colonel, urged members of the public
to disregard the information.
He, however, said that six members of proscribed
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) were arrested and handed over to Abia State
Police Command by the troop.
According to him, the attention of the division
was drawn to an online news publication alleging that some soldiers of 144
Battalion on routine patrol in Aba shot three persons and one of them died
instantly.
“The division wishes to state that, although
there was an incident involving 144 Battalion patrol team with some traders at
Asa-Nnentu Spare Parts Market in Ugwunagbo Local Government Area of Abia, at no
time was anybody shot at, wounded or killed as lopsidedly and wrongly reported
by the online medium.
“For
record purpose, this was what happened: At 12.00 hours on Wednesday, Feb. 6,
troops of the Battalion on exercise Egwu Eke III were alerted on the massive
presence of some youths allegedly disrupting commercial activities and pasting
posters with the inscription – “There will be no elections in Abia State and
Entire Biafra Land’’, “Support Biafran Referendum’’, “Vote for Biafra, Vote for
Total Freedom from Slavery’’ – among others, which were unusually widely pasted
on private shops around Aloaji general area of Aba.
“Consequently, as professionally responsive
soldiers, the team moved to the area to ensure peace and security; no person
was to be harassed or molested by miscreants or violent secessionist agitators.
“Unfortunately, some of the misguided traders
and hoodlums loitering around started chanting anti-soldier commentaries, with
some of them boldly obstructing troops’ movements.
“This situation, necessarily, in the
circumstance, caused two of the personnel to fire warning shots to disperse the
surging crowd,’’ he said.
Mr Musa said that since that day, the area had
been calm and the outlawed IPOB posters removed, while residents had been going
about their normal businesses unhindered.
He warned individuals and groups o desist from
confronting troops on legitimate duty.
- Premium Times
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