Army raids Enugu community in search of IPOB members

Soldiers on Friday night raided the Akpawfu community in the Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State in search of members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Daily Trust gathered that there were sporadic shootings and confusion all through the Friday night as villagers scampered for safety when the troops, who reportedly arrived in the community at about midnight.

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As of the time of this report on Sunday, it was not certain whether the soldiers had left the community said to have been deserted by the natives.

“This is happening in my own village Agudene Akpawfu. We don’t know what we have done to these people. One of the boys they went to his house was brutally beaten up; we are not sure he will survive it.”

“As I speak to you, I am hiding. People have deserted the village,” a native said on phone.

Confirming the attack, the traditional ruler of Akpawfu community, His Royal Highness Igwe Christopher Nnamani, said he had reported to the Divisional Police Officer in the Area who promised to get back to him.

Daily Trust gathered that the latest raid would be the third time by soldiers in recent times. This has caused panic among villager.

However, in a statement issued on Sunday and made available to Daily Trust, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, who justified the soldiers’ action on the community, said troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army (NA) in conjunction with other security agencies, while conducting Exercise Golden Dawn, had arrested one Godwin Nnamdi, a notorious leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Nkanu East Local Government Area.

He said that the IPOB leader was arrested during joint clearance operations at a camp suspected to be the fortress of IPOB/ESN elements located at Akpowfu Forest in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, on Saturday 25 December 2021.

According to Nwachukwu, “During the clearance operation, troops engaged the dissidents in a firefight compelling them to take to their heels, leading to the arrest of their leader.

“Troops recovered various items including one AK 47 rifle, one magazine containing 21 rounds of 7. 62 mm Special, one handset amongst others.”

He said the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, while commending troops for the successes recorded thus far, charged them to comb and clear all suspected hideouts of criminal elements in their Area of Responsibility.