Chidi Samuel
The Nigerian Army said it did not kill 11 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Port Harcourt, during the January 20, solidarity rally.
In a statement on Sunday, the spokesman for the 6th Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Col Aminu IIiyusu said that the army adhered strictly to rules of engagement in spite of provocation from some IPOB members.
“The attention of 6 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to a baseless and unsubstantiated allegation by one Emma Powerful, who claimed that soldiers killed 11 IPOB members during Jan. 20 rally.
“The allegation is false, malicious and existed in the figment of the imagination of Mr. Powerful, who claimed to be the Publicity Secretary of IPOB.
“Despite all provocative attempt occasioned by the stoning of security agents and smashing of computers’ windscreen, troops refused to be cajoled to fire a single shot.
“In spite of the provocation, the violent protest was only subdued with the use of tear gas while arrests were made by a sister security agency with no casualty recorded on either side,” he said.
The army spokesman stated that pictures and videos put on Social Media were old materials picked from IPOB archives for propaganda purposes.
“We wish to inform the public that the allegation is untrue and so, should be dismissed as mere propaganda by the separatist group.
“We wish to restate our total commitment to the protection of lives and properties within the division’s area of responsibility.
“To this end, Mr Powerful and other like-minded mischief makers are hereby warned that the Nigerian Army will no longer tolerate such allegations.”
He, therefore, urged residents of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta and Bayelsa to be law abiding and corporate with security agencies.