.Army: “Our men were deployed to protect not to kill locals”
A group, Spaces for Change has condemned, in strong terms, the alleged extrajudicial killing of innocent locals in the Nwaorieubi area in Mbaitoli council area of Imo state.
In what is viewed as reprisal attacks, Spaces for Change left the blame for the killings on the door post of the officers of the 34 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army.
But in a quick reaction, the spokesman of the Brigade, Lt. Babatunde Zubairu said the Command has no record of such incidents and is aware that its men were deployed to protect the community and not to attack locals.
“What I can tell you is that on the day our men were attacked, we got a distress call for reinforcement and we deployed reinforcement. With our men attacked and the police station burnt, the communities were exposed and we moved in our men to protect lives and properties from the rampaging criminal elements. This is all I know and I’m not aware of any formal complaints to that effect. Even our men that were shot, had meant to speak to the young men, when they opened fire on them.
Nevertheless, one thing we can assure the residents of Imo is that we will not allow hoodlums and criminal elements to harass them or terrorize any part of the state again.”
Space for Change however alleges that the soldiers may have been taking out their anger on non-combatant locals which have since resulted in the death of no fewer than six persons as at Wednesday, October 21, 2020.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, the group noted that, “The dead and the injured are mostly women, girls and young men. These killings are senseless, unjustified and totally unlawful.”
The statement further read: “Eye witnesses told Spaces for Change that in the heat of the civil unrests that accompanied the #EndSARS nationwide protests on Wednesday, October 21, a group of unidentified hoodlums, driving in a white Toyota Hiace Bus shot an unnamed police escort at Eziama Junction, Orodo. The group moved from Orodo to Nwaorieubi Police Division at Mbaitoli LGA Headquarters where they shot sporadically in the air and also set two blocks of police residential quarters ablaze.
“The hoodlums moved on to the military checkpoint at Ubomiri, where they also engaged the soldiers in a gun duel. Unfortunately, Corporal Godwin Elkana of the Nigerian police force and two soldiers—Sergeant Onyema and Sergeant Clark—lost their lives, while others escaped. After the attack, the group escaped through Orlu Road.
“Hours after the group bolted, heavily armed men of the Nigeria Army regrouped and returned to Mbaitoli in what seemed to be a reprisal attack and started raiding communities around Nwaorieubi vicinity- Awo Mbieri, Amawuihe Ubomiri, Ifakala, and Orodo axis. Chanting war songs proclaiming that the life of one soldier is equal to the lives of 40 civilians, they fired live ammunitions at everybody and everything in sight, unleashing terror of unimaginable proportions in the community.”
The statement added that fleeing residents that were felled and injured by the bullets include:
“21-year-old Chiedozie Onwumere (male) who was shot at close range.
Mr. Chisom Onyeagubo, who rushed to assist Chiedozie Onwumere and was equally shot. Both men died instantly.
“The soldiers zoomed off with their bodies. Mr Chisom Onyeagubo left behind, his 4 children and a pregnant wife.
“Mr. Godwin Agomuo, from Okpofe Ezinihitte Mbaise, was also killed in the incident. Until his death, Mr Godwin Agomuo, was the Director of Finance and Admin, IMSUBEB.
Other casualties listed by the group include Mr. Obumneke Dioku from Umudurualoka, Ifakala was shot at and is currently hospitalized; Onyinyechi Ugwuegbu from Amawuihe Ubomiri; Evangeline Opara from Ofekata Orodo, whose since been buried and Augustine Mkporogwu from Ofekata Orodo.
Since that Wednesday, Nwaorieubi residents have fled their homes, fearing further violent attacks by men of the Nigeria Army.
While Nwaorieubi and other communities in Mbaitoli council area are demanding justice for these senseless killings, Spaces for Change also called on the federal government, especially the Chief of Army Staff to investigate these killings and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“At a time Nigerians are calling on the government to halt police brutality and right historical injustices perpetrated by security operatives, the latest killings by the Nigerian Army reinforces the need for immediate reform of the entire security architecture in the country. We join Nwaorieubi communities to demand justice for the dead, the injured and for grieving families who lost their loved ones.”
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