Nigerian Army yesterday said it would go after members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for the gruesome murder of army couple in Imo State.
Daily Trust had reported how two soldiers, Audu Linus, a Master Warrant Officer, and Private Gloria Matthew, were shot dead and beheaded on Saturday when they were on transit to Imo State for their traditional wedding.
Army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement issued in Abuja, described the killing as “gruesome, barbaric and most despicable”.
“Apparently, the soldiers had embarked on the trip to fulfill the traditional rites of conjugating their matrimony, as the very well respected and cherished Igbo tradition demands.
“Ironically, the fact that one of the soldiers, Pte Gloria Matthew who hails from Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo State, has an ethnic affiliation with the good people of South East Nigeria did not prevail on the sensibility of the dissidents.
“This dastardly act, one too many, clearly portends the deep-seated hate, desperation and lawlessness with which foot soldiers of IPOB/ESN have been unleashing terror on Ndigbo, whom they claim they are on a mission to protect and emancipate, as well as other innocent Nigerians who are resident or transiting the South East.
“This gruesome murder, in which they did not spare even their own child, clearly depicts callousness, impenitence and is indisputably a brazen act of terrorism perpetrated by IPOB/ESN,” the statement read.
Nwachukwu said the dissident groups had continued to live in denial, while masquerading as unknown gunmen in their criminal violent campaign in the region.
He urged members of the public to oblige security agencies with actionable information that would lead to the arrest of the criminals.
“While we deeply condole with the families, relations and close associates of the victims, the NA has commenced investigation to unmask and bring the criminals to book,” the statement added.
