Army Chief Orders Troops To Raid IPOB Enclaves

The Chief of Army Staff, Maj Gen Taoreed Lagbaja has ordered troops to raid areas where the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) enforce sit-at-home order throughout the South-East states.

The order came after a Finland-based pro-Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, announced that there would be a two-week sit-at-home in the South-East region from July 31.

Speaking in an interview with The PUNCH, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu declared that the troops of the 82 Division had been given the order to work with other security agencies to ensure citizens go about their businesses freely.

The army spokesman asserted that such an announcement was unlawful and would not be condoned.

Onyema said, “The renewed threat by IPOB to compel the people in southeastern Nigeria to sit at home is not only appalling but a violation of the fundamental rights of southeastern Nigerians and, therefore, unlawful. This will never be condoned.

“The Chief of Army Staff has handed down clear directives to the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army operating in synergy with other security agencies to ensure robust patrols to dominate all flashpoints and emplace measures to ensure citizens are free to go about their legitimate businesses.

“Strangely, Simon Ekpa, a notorious terrorist and self-acclaimed leader of IPOB, is in Finland making a living for himself and his family, but ordering the people to shut down their means of livelihood by sitting at home.”

The army spokesman called on  Nigerians in the South-East region to disregard the sit-at-home order, urging them to support the security forces to defeat IPOB.

Onyema said, “We implore the good and enterprising people of the South-East to shun all forms of cajoling or threats aimed at unlawfully compelling them to be reclusive by sitting at home. We urge them to join forces with the security operatives to resist this illegality perpetrated by IPOB.”