The Nigerian Army on Tuesday accused members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network, of killing a military couple.
PUNCH Metro had reported that the duo of Master Warrant Officer Audu Linus and Private Gloria Matthew travelled to Imo State for their traditional marriage rites where some armed men shot and beheaded the soldiers.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement, said the incident was a testament to how IPOB/ESN was unleashing terror on innocent Nigerians.
The statement read in part, “Apparently, the soldiers had embarked on the trip to fulfil the traditional rites of conjugating their matrimony, as the very well respected and cherished Igbo tradition demands.Ironically, the fact that one of the soldiers, Pte Gloria Matthew who hailed from Nkwerre LGA of Imo State, had an ethnic affiliation with the good people of South-East Nigeria did not prevail on the sensibility of the dissidents.
“This dastardly act, one too many, clearly portends the deep-seated hate, desperation and lawlessness with which foot soldiers of IPOB/ESN have been unleashing terror on Ndigbo, whom they claim they are on a mission to protect and emancipate, as well as other innocent Nigerians who are resident or transiting the South East.
“This gruesome murder, in which they did not spare even their own child, clearly depicts callousness, impenitence and is indisputably a brazen act of terrorism perpetrated by IPOB/ESN.He vowed that the Army would ensure the perpetrators were brought to book, calling on residents to help with information that could lead to their arrest.
Onyema said, “Though the dissident groups have continued to live in denial while masquerading as unknown gunmen in their criminal violent campaign in the region, the Nigerian Army will ensure the perpetrators of this dastardly act unleashed on its personnel do not go unpunished.
“While we deeply condole with the families, relations and close associates of the victims, the NA has commenced investigation to unmask and bring the criminals to book.”
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