Yesterday, viral reports indicated that the Nigerian Army allegedly attacked the home of The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)’s leader, NNamdi Kanu, in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.
The IPOB group, which claimed that the attack carried out by members of the Nigeria Army was an alleged attempt on the life of their leader, Kanu.
The Police immediately reacted to the reports [Read Here]
Now the, the Nigerian Army is reacting, and they have denied attacking Kanu’s home but admitted that it fired warning shots after being allegedly blocked from going through the FMC-World Bank road in Umuahia.
“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,” said army spokesman, Major Oyegoke Gbadamosi.
The army which maintained that no life was lost in the incident urged the public 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,” Gbadamosi said.
Their full statement below;
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.
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
