Army Debunks Alleged Death of Personal, Civilians in Attack

Tony Icheku in Owerri

The Acting Deputy Director, 82 Division Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, yesterday dismissed as falsehood reports circulating on social media and other online publications alleging the death of a soldier and civilians during an attack on the Nigerian Army in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.

The statement issued by the Enugu headquarters of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army stated that the reports had “no iota of truth, but the  fiction of the imagination of sympathisers of dissident group.

“The attention of 82 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to the falsehood being peddled by some online media outlets claiming that an attack on troops of the division deployed in Ehime Mbano Local Government Secretariat led to the death of several soldiers and civilians.

“The publication is a fiction playing out in the minds of the terrorist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) criminal elements and their sympathizers that want to dampen the confidence of Imolites and by extension the people of South-east region.”

Unuakhalu recalled that on October 3, 2023, the headquarters of Isiala  Mbano LGA, built and maintained by public fund, was set ablaze and destroyed by same IPOB/ESN criminal elements but there was no attack or causality on troop or civilians.

The army spokesman added  that similar mindless attempt was made at the secretariat of Ehime Mbano LGA in the late hours of Wednesday, October 8, 2024.

He said that, however, the  effort of the troops prevented the  criminals from gaining entrance into the council area secretariat.

According to him, “The criminal elements who came in their numbers shooting sporadically from a distance had to beat a hasty retreat due to the overwhelming fire power of the vigilant and gallant troops.

“During the exploitation carried out in the early hours of today, it was confirmed the dissidents suffered heavy casualties as seen from the blood stains on Ehime Mbano- Oriagwu Road.”

Unuakhalu urged the public to disregard misinformation by the online publications as troops would continue to protect citizens and critical government infrastructure in the state by dealing decisively with criminal elements who aim to subvert the government.

He noted that “the anti-people cowardly behaviour” of the dissidents burning public buildings built by tax payers’ money and where law-abiding citizens eke out a living is most unfortunate.”

The spokesman said: “Apparently, the IPOB elements are not for the people but for themselves.

“Headquarters of 82 Division enjoins all Imolites and by extension the residents of the South-East to continue to provide security information that will allow security agencies to eliminate the criminal elements by calling our toll-free line 193 and press Option 2. 

“The good citizens of the South-east region are encouraged to go about their normal socio-economic activities without fear or intimidation from any group of persons.”

THISDAY reports that  the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Nsu Study Centre in Ehime Mbano and the home of former Senator, Frank Ibezim, were set ablaze by suspected gunmen over false reports that there is intent to settle IDPs, refugees, or migrant persons at the NOUN Nsu Centre.