IPOB Ambush Soldiers in Umuahia …Crack Heads with Machetes

Matilda Omonaiye/

Three casualties were recorded Sunday, when soldiers on a drill in Abia State were allegedly ambushed by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Newsmakersng learnt that the clash was at Afara in Umuahia, where IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, resides. It started at about 5:30 pm when IPOB members confronted soldiers who claimed to be test-driving a newly repaired Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC).

Police authorities told Newsmakersng that one soldier and two innocent passersby were seriously injured in the attack.

They were identified as Corporal James Waikiki, a policeman on guard duty at the home of the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, a woman identified as Mrs Grace Nwokeukwu of Umuobasi Isiama Afara, in Umuahia, and the gunman on the APC – Military Corporal Kolawole Matthew.

The policeman, who allegedly left his beat to buy recharge card received deep machete cut on the head, just like Mrs Nwokeukwu, while the soldier was injured in his left wrist.

IPOB members also claimed that one of them was shot. The member was, however, not identified.

Abia State commissioner of police (CP), Leye Oyebade, told Newsmakersng that the situation was quickly brought under control and all victims were taken to the police clinic in Umuahia for treatment.

Military spokesman, Major Oyegoke Gbadamosi, issued a statement on the attack on Sunday night.

He stated that no life was lost.

According to Gbadamosi, the ambushed troops were from 145 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, who were on a drill along World Bank Road in Umuahia town.

He said that the troops only fired warning shots in the air, when the militants blocked their passage and started pelting them with stones and broken bottles.

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