ESN, IPOB Didn’t Kill Soldiers, As Forces Not Out For Vengeance: Army

ESN and IPOB did not kill six Nigerian soldiers, according to the Nigerian Army, and its troops in Abia are not on a vengeance mission.

iexclusive News Nigeria report that Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, Director of Army Public Relations, said in a statement on Monday that, contrary to allegations, no soldier was killed in the Ohafia local government area.

Residents of Elu, Amangwu, and Amaekpu in Ohafia LGA allegedly staged a mass departure out of fear, according to Mr Yerima.

He called the claim a “baseless fiction” intended to degrade the army’s image and sow distrust between the population and the state’s security forces.

According to the army spokesman, the troops simply conducted “clearing operations” in the region in accordance with engagement guidelines and people’ fundamental human rights.

Mr Yerima went on to say that the operation was meant to re-establish socio-economic activities that had been disrupted by IPOB and ESN members who had attacked security agents and destroyed government facilities.

According to him, the troops are striving to restore normalcy to difficult areas and clear the state of criminal groups in collaboration with the police and other security services, using timely and reliable intelligence provided by civilians.

“As a result, we want to reassure the good people of Abia that their lives and property are safe,” he stated. “We also encourage people to keep reporting suspicious movements and activities of unfamiliar individuals or groups in their area to the nearest security agency for immediate action.”