Published 31st May, 2024

By Joseph Adeiye

Rose Agwu, a Nigerian medical doctor, has narrated how some soldiers entered her home in Abia State and arrested her teenage brother and her sister.

Agwu made a short X post on Friday morning, raising the alarm that her siblings were taken away from their house without information on their whereabouts or reason for the arrest.

The doctor said her family’s house is close to Obikabia Junction in the Aba area of Abia, where some soldiers were attacked and killed by gunmen suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) secessionist group.

Later on Friday, with her brother and sister still in the custody of the soldiers in an unknown location, Agwu provided more details about the arrest.

“Around 5 am in the morning, the Nigerian Army invaded my house, broke the gate and our door and took my 15-year-old brother and my sister, who had just come home, away, leaving only my aged father,” she stated on Friday afternoon.

“Till now, they have not been released. We are still trying to locate them.

“…please help us ask the Nigerian Army the logical reason behind this and how they can account for all the people they took and their plans for them.

“I don’t want (to) hear stories, please this is how people get missing and killed. Please release my siblings, they know nothing about the shooting or unknown gunmen, please.”

Agwu expressed concerns about her siblings being linked with the attack on soldiers.

@alexottiofr @aproko_doctor @instablog9ja @GossipMillNaija @KraksTV @HQNigerianArmy @ARISEtv @officialABAT
Release innocent children, use your intelligence unit to fish out the unknown Gunmen! Set my siblings free, how are you comfortable arresting children from their home!
— Zay (@RoseAgwu254246) May 31, 2024

Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, has confirmed the fatal attacks on army personnel in Aba.

“Troops of OP UDO KA deployed at Obikabia Junction Checkpoint in Obingwa Local Government Areas adjourning Aba metropolis in Abia State were attacked and sadly killed by terrorist of IPOB/ ESN,” his statement read in part.

“The troops deployed to enforce peace in the area and protect the citizens were massed attacked by the terrorist. The terrorist in 3 tinted Prado Toyota SUVs and others from built-up areas surrounding the checkpoint sprang a surprise attack on the checkpoint. The attack sadly took the lives of 5 personnel of the armed forces killed in action.

“The armed forces mourns the death of these troops, as each and every soldier lost in battle is a terrible loss. Meanwhile, investigation are ongoing concerning the attack. Overall, it must be reiterated that the lifeline of the terrorist is the people and this situation is no exemption.

“Winning the war without the support of the people is close to impossible. The IPOB capitalised on this to perpetrate attacks on the troops. The situation leaves more to be desired. Accordingly, it is absolutely imperative that the military retaliate against this dastardly act against troops.

“The military would be fierce in its response. We would bring overwhelming military pressure on the group to ensure their total defeat.”

PRESS RELEASE ON ATTACK ON TROOPS OF OPERATION UDO KA AT CHECKPOINT IN ABIA STATE ON 30 MAY 2024

Troops of OP UDO KA deployed at Obikabia Junction Checkpoint in Obingwa Local Government Areas adjourning Aba metropolis in Abia State were attacked and sadly killed by terrorist…
— Nigerian Army (@HQNigerianArmy) May 31, 2024

FIJ called Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, on Friday, but he did not respond. He had also not responded to FIJ’s text at press time.

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