..Three Killed During Operation, Others Flee
By Peter Uzoma
Residents of Umuaka, in Njaba Local Government Area, in the Orlu zone of Imo State, on Monday, January 23, 2023, scampered for safety following the invasion of joint security forces in the area with heart wrenching gun sounds.
In the early hours of yesterday, the Army and the Police, in a joint operation cruelly besieged Umuaka Communities in a bid to arrest youths suspected to be loyalists of the proscribed Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB.
Regrettably, while carrying out the assignment, this newspaper learnt, that no fewer than three lives were lost.
Some of the deceased persons, according to eyewitness account include one Kuja Chidiobi, Amaram Kingsley, and one Ifeanyi Azubuike, all under forty (40) years of age.
Further information scooped by this newspaper revealed that, following an information released by one of the Presidents-General of the Community (names withheld), detailing the security operatives that suspected IPOB members were meeting around the Afor Umuaka Market, on Sunday 22nd, a day before the next day (Monday 23), had to disrupt them for possible arrest and prosecution.
Unfortunately, before they could reach the location for the meeting, many fled, leaving their belongings behind out of fear and for possible safety.
Angered by their disappearance, vehicles were set on fire which went up in flames alongside the abandoned motorcyles of the fleeing suspects.
It was further gathered that both the hall the meeting was held and the commercial bus belonging to one Onwughara Ogechi Ohaeri was not spared, down to his maternal home where the furious, angry looking joint security forces met no one but an empty house.
One of the arrested suspected Biafra agitators, Ikoro Magnus known as Roger, who couldn’t run due to his amputated legs, confessed that, they are neither terrorists nor fanning the embers of war, but patriotic Nigerians who converged to discuss and seek a way forward for the well-being of the people of the Igbo race otherwise known as the South Easterners.
He was quoted to have wept profusely over the killing of their three members and burning of the commercial bus belonging to Mr Onwughara Ogechi, who was said to be hired to drive the group and get paid for his services.
Meanwhile, our correspondent who visited the scene narrated that Army and Police had condoned off all routes leading to Umuaka and are still threatening to apprehend anyone seen associating with the Federal Government’s proscribed IPOB group.
Details newsmen obtained revealed that the security operatives have commenced manhunt for all the youths that escaped from being arrested. The security operatives are threatening severe punishment should they be apprehended.
All efforts to get the response of the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of the Imo State Command proved abortive as he neither answered his calls nor replied his text messages as at press time.
