Contrary to the dubious and bunkum claims made in the latest news release made available to the press on Tuesday the 12th of February 2019 by the so called Secretary for the proscribed Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) alleging – “the killing of two young men in Owerri and the imaginary abduction of Biafrans” in Aba, Abia State by the Nigerian Army (NA), the 82 division, Nigerian Army wish to state there was nobody that was manhandled, shot, wounded, abducted or killed by a soldier or soldiers in Abia and Imo States or in any other State of the South East geopolitical zone.
A statement by Col Sagir Musa, outgoing Spokesman of the division said, “As a professional and responsible organisation, the Nigerian Army under the leadership of Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has variously and sufficiently – (both in deeds and actions) made it clear that it will not encourage or condone any form of professional misconduct especially human rights abuses”.
“In the same vein, the Nigerian Army will not ordinarily join words with an illegal organization but just to set the record straight against the kind of divisive, selfish and wicked propaganda and misinformation mischievously being perpetrated by the proscribed IPOB.
Continuing Sagir said, “The Nigerian Army ably represented by the 82 Division in the South East, will continue to protect the lives and properties of all Nigerians in the zone and is determined to ensure peaceful and secured conduct of free, fair and credible 2019 general elections.
“For awareness and further clarification, civilians are not detained in conventional army detention centres except under exceptional situations such as on charges of terrorism, insurgency or any form of armed insurrection among others.
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“So, anyone arrested by the Nigerian Army during the ongoing Exercise EGWU EKE 111 has been handed over to the civil police for further necessary action.
“Members of the public are hereby requested to disregard any form of divisive and inciting propaganda particularly the ones coming from the likes of miscreants and outlawed organizations like IPOB”.
On its part, the outlawed IPOB had in statement signed by Comrade Emma Powerful, Media and Publicity Secretary of the group disclosed thus, “The Nigerian Army is at it again. Yesterday (Monday), they shot dead two young men in Owerri.
“Last night and this morning they have commenced their abduction of Biafrans in Aba.
“Bafrans are now the longest suffering race in human history.
“One day the anger will no longer be controllable and the world will wake up then to start pontificating.
“Nigerian Army is conducting a stealth genocidal war against Biafrans and it is the responsibility of the world to take note.
“We have been made to feel that a Biafran life is worthless.
“Let these facts be chronicled for posterity because we shall reference them at the appropriate time.
“Any day we start, let the world not blame us. Those that gave the Nigerian army license to kill our people will regret it, them and their families.
“Nigerian Army must release those they abducted including a husband and wife they kidnapped this morning.
“Our decision to boycott elections is an act of civil disobedience which any reasonable person ought to understand.
“That Nigeria is an uncivilised backward society is not the fault of IPOB.
“We have chosen a civilised non violent approach but it appears Fulani Caliphate, their Jihadi Nigerian Army and Igbo Efulefus are hell bent on provoking us to pick up arms.
“When that eventually happens, the world should know those to hold responsible.
END
