Nigerian Army Speaks On Bloody Easter In Orlu

Nigerian Army authority has reacted to the allegations of military atrocities on Sunday at Orlu community in Imo state.

Earlier on Sunday, residents sent SOS with some verified videos indicating Unknown Gunmen and men of the Nigerian Army were in gun battle that had left some innocent civilians dead.

One of the said innocent civilians simply identified as Rocco, was alleged to have been gunned down by Nigeria soldiers.

Close to the dead body of Rocco, is a car partly damaged and pushed into the gutter.

Some residents said the soldiers inside armoured vehicle while plying the road in chase of unknown gunmen used the armoured vehicle to push the car aside. The residents said the car was parked on the road side and no body was inside as at the time the armoured vehicle pushed it off the road.

The dead body of Rocco was found at the entrance gate of a perimeter fence.

The music star shared happy Easter message on social media shortly before he was killed.

The Nigerian Army in a press statement issued few hours ago did not say anything about the innocent civilian, Rocco allegedly killed by its men.

The Army in a statement signed by Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Army Director of Public Relations, said the irredentist group having suffered casualty and effectively denied freedom of action by the troops, resorted to cheap propaganda to whip up public sentiments by circulating a doctored video on the social media alleging troops complicity in their mindless atrocities.

“This propaganda should be disregarded in its entirety”, the army said.

The Army said what happened on Sunday is that the Troops of 34 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army on Sunday neutralized a member of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and its armed affiliate Eastern Security Network, ESN, at Ihioma Community in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State.

‘Troops’ on routine patrol encountered members of the irredentist group who fired sporadically at Banana Junction to enforce the illegal sit at home order on law abiding citizens going about their legitimate businesses.

“The IPOB/ESN criminals on sighting the troops, withdrew in a blue Toyota Highlander towards Ihioma Community for reinforcement.

“In the fire fight that ensued during the operation, one of the criminals was taken out, while others fled in disarray.

“Troops are combing the general area in a follow up operations to track down the fleeing dissidents”, the Army said.