As soldiers search for missing soldier, four people killed by the military

In their pursuit of a kidnapped soldier, the troops murder four and seize their weapons.

On Wednesday, the Nigerian Army alleged that some troops from Headquarters 82 Division NA broke into the Amangu neighbourhood in Abia State and killed some locals.

The assertion was deemed incorrect by Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, in a statement on Thursday.

He said that when Staff Sergeant Bassey Ikunugwan was supposed to be on leave and was kidnapped along the Road Okwu-Ebem Ohafia in Abia State, the troops were looking for him.

He said that after confirming Amangu Village/Forest as an enclave of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN), where the soldier was allegedly being held prisoner, troops launched a search and rescue operation there.

According to him, during the search and rescue operations, troops came into contact with members of the banned armed groups, which led to a firefight in which they neutralized one of the criminals and found an AK-47 rifle, a mobile phone, and a magazine filled with seven rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition.

On November 5, 2022, he said during a follow-up, forces stormed another group’s hideout in Amangu Village in Abia State, neutralized two criminals, and several fled with bullet wounds.

According to him, the soldiers found two locally built AK-47 weapons, four pump action rifles, a handgun made in the area, a sniper rifle, six magazines, 13 7.62mm (NATO), and a motorbike.

Additional items include two CCTV cameras, one solar panel, two mobile phones, one INEC box, 12 face caps, machetes, pairs of combat boots, pairs of rain boots, camouflage outfits, one transistor radio, two jungle helmets, two knee guards, one power bank, and a PVC.

He said that one soldier was lost by the forces and added that the NA will do everything possible to find the missing soldier.