The Nigeria Army has urged Nigerians to ignore “fake” reports making the rounds online that it attacked IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu and killed five people.
IPOB had alleged in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Emmanuel Powerful that five people were killed and at least 30 were injured when the Police and Army officers launched an attack on the group at the leader’s premises in Aba, Abia state.
“The Hausa Fulani soldiers and Police Nigerian uniforms came to kill our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in his compound at Afaraukwu Umuahia and started shooting sporadically and killed five people and up to thirty people with bullets wounds, after attacking our people they went off, they came with 5 Hilux vans,” the statement read.
But a statement issued by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 14 Brigade Nigerian Army Major Oyegoke Gbadamosi and refuted the claims by the group.
“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 a 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 hoodlums dispersed. No life was lost.
“Therefore the public are kindly enjoined to disregard the rumors going round and the fictitious photographs of purported victims of the 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 statement added.
In their reaction, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abia State Command, DSP Geoffrey Ogbonna, Anipr said in a statement that there was no loss of lives but there was a clash between the Army and IPOB members.
The statement read: “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 Matchette 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”, the statement added.
“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”, the statement added.
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