The Nigerian Army has disclaimed circulating social media claims that two soldiers deployed to ensure peace in the troubled areas of Oso Edda and Amasiri were killed in Oso Edda.
The rumour had gained traction since February 2 mainly on social media platforms and handles affiliated to Amasiri community members.
The unfounded claims now proven false by the army lied that assailants from Oso Edda waylaid soldiers on peace mission and killed some.
On Wednesday, the Cantonment Commander, Nkwagu Military Barracks, Abakaliki, Lt. Col. Emmanuel Chielo, made the clarification when he addressed journalists on the efforts of security agencies to restore peace and order in the affected communities.
Chielo said emphatically that the story is false, misleading, and should be disregarded
“None of my men was killed. The operation in Amasiri is a joint one involving the police, the DSS and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
“What happened was that on the first day of our deployment, they probably assumed that the number of soldiers on ground was little, and they attacked us. We responded, but because the area is built up, we had to be very cautious to avoid shooting innocent people in their homes.
“If we had acted out of anger or emotion that night, it would have been bloody. We acted professionally. Aside from the attack on us, none of my soldiers was killed during the operation.”
This attack was earlier made public by Governor Ogbonnaya Nwifuru during his state broadcast last Sunday morning, and it happened in Amasiri, specifically.
The Army chief also assured all that security agencies would ensure the recovery of the severed heads of those beheaded by the suspected Amasiri assailants during the attack on Okporojo Village.
Lt. Col. Chielo said “One of the key issues we want to address is the recovery of the heads of those beheaded. It is not enough that they killed these people; they also cut off their heads as if they were animals. What are they doing with the heads of fellow human beings?
“What is even more painful is that these are our brothers and sisters, people of the same ancestry. It is really saddening. While growing up, I never imagined that something like this could happen in Nigeria.
“There are many causes of insecurity. What we often see is just the physical manifestation. When you look deeper, there are always underlying factors.
“Communal clashes over ancestral land, chieftaincy titles and related issues remain major triggers. That said, a lot of effort has been made over the years, which is why Ebonyi State enjoys a relatively high level of peace. In fact, Ebonyi State is currently the most peaceful state in the South-East.”
He commended the State Security Council’s decision, approved by the Ebonyi State Government, describing it as a necessary step toward restoring peace in Okporojo Village and the Amasiri community.
“I heard some people blame the governor for the decision he took. Honestly, if you visited the area, you would say the governor was too lenient. An elderly woman, walking with a stick, was beheaded. What exactly did she do to deserve such a death?
If the affected people decide to carry out a reprisal attack, would anyone blame them? That is what we are trying to prevent. It is not that they lack the capacity,” he said.
He also identified the proliferation and movement of small arms as another major security threat.
“Every state is gradually becoming a transit point for small arms. It is a serious problem. You may not notice it immediately, but it is there. You see people riding tricycles as if they are going to the farm, but they are transporting weapons to deliver to someone.
“In my view, both the federal and state governments are making genuine efforts, but much more still needs to be done. Security should not be left to the government alone,” he added.
