ONE BLINDED AS YOUTHS CLASH WITH MILITARY OVER ALLEGED PLOT BY MILITARY TO SET COMMUNITY ON FIRE
There was pandemonium on Saturday, June 8, 2024 in Isiala Mbano local government area of Imo State, as it was alleged that youths prevented soldiers from burning and destroying properties worth several millions of Naira in the community.
As narrated, trouble started when three armed soldiers ridding on a Motorbike were spotted around 2.am, heading towards the house of a retired military officer in the community, who was said to have traveled abroad. According to a local source, the retired officer's relocation to overseas may not be unconnected to the rumors making rounds that security agencies have been looking for ways to link him to membership and financing the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the community and possibly arresting him.
Earlier, it was reported that armed Soldiers had on 20th February, 2024, stormed his house, arrested and took his security guard to an undesclosed location where he was seriously brutalized. The security guard was said to have been detained and tortured for two weeks and in an attempt to get information about the whereabouts of his boss, the soldiers were alleged to have blinded one of his eyes.
"When we saw the soldiers on two motorcycles around 2am without headlights, we knew something was not right. We stopped them because we were keeping guard, we asked them where they were heading to and why, knowing that the road they were plying ended at the retired officer's house. They could not give us an answer".
"We became suspicious of their mission and this caused argument between us and them, so we started calling other youths who were also on guard, station at other areas and they came and joined us. It was during this argument that we saw a 5 litre container filled with petrol and demanded to know why they were carrying petrol hidden in between their legs. It was at this point that we maintained our stand by telling the soldiers that the road does not lead to anywhere except the house of our brother, hence they were forced to return back to the major road and left". One of the youths said.
Recounting their ordeal, the Youth leader of Obollo community, Mr Solomon Onyedika decried the activities of uniformed men who he said have been terrorising the community with impunity for a long time.
He complained that they have no place to report such incidents or make official complaints since the Divisional Police Headquarters at Umuelemai, in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State was burnt down about three years ago.
The Youth leader narrated how the retired officer who owns the mansion narrowly escaped assassination at a military checkpoint along Owerri/Okigwe road in 2016. He pleaded with Imo state Governor to come to their aid as they are now living in fears.
"The community is hereby pleading with our state Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma to intervene in the harassment being meted out to us by armed security officers. They have made life very miserable for the indigenes and residents of our community. We are also afraid of reprisal attack from the soldiers who felt disrespected by our youths who prevented them from accomplishing their mission". The youth leader said.
Meanwhile, the arrested security guard whose name was given as "Musa" is said to be taking treatment at an undisclosed private hospital in Owerri, where he is battling for his life, having lost one eye during his arrest and torture among other serious injuries.
This incident underscores the tension and friction ongoing in several parts of South East, between Nigerian army and IPOB which has resulted to uncountable civilian casualties. Recently, Governor Alex Otti's timely intervention had averted the blood bath which would have followed the killing of Soldiers in Aba by yet to be identified gunmen.
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) is still being held by Nigerian government, despite being set free by a Nigerian court. IPOB had recently warned Media houses and the general public to stop referring to IPOB as a terrorist organization. A federal high court sitting in Enugu had set Nnamdi Kanu free of all terrorism and treason charges leveled against him and IPOB by Nigerian government.
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