Operation Python Dance II continues in Abia, other South East states, Army faults Ikpeazu, as 30 IPOB members remanded in Rivers

*Killing of Northerners by Nnamdi Kanu’s followers in Abia: Tension in Jos, Gov slams curfew

The Nigerian Army has said that Operation Python Dance II currently ongoing in the South East, will continue.

The Army in a statement signed, Thursday night, by Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, asked the public not to misconstrue the  statement of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Thursday, to mean that the Army was totally halting the Operation Python Dance II in the South East, including Abia State.

The statement read:  ‘’The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to some stories in the media that it is withdrawing its troops from exercise EGWU EKE II,   crediting such information to Abia State Governor and the General Officer Commanding 82 Division Nigerian Army. This is not true. The Nigerian Army wishes to enjoin members of the public to disregard such rumours.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Abia State Governor in his speech stated that “there will be gradual withdrawal of soldiers on the streets of Aba and Umuahia from tomorrow.

‘’This should not be misconstrued as withdrawing of troops earmarked for Exercise EGWU EKE II. The General Officer Commanding 82 Division has not said such thing.

“Consequently, we wish to state that exercise EGWU EKE II is commencing tomorrow as scheduled. Commanders have been instructed to ensure that all hands are on deck to commence the exercise to its logical completion.

“We wish to state further that the successful completion of the exercise will dovetail into the various states security outfits till the end of this year.

“Members of the public, especially in the areas where the exercise will take place, are please enjoined to go about their lawful businesses. We wish to also state that we would not allow any individual or group to jeopardize the conduct of the field training exercise through unlawful or criminal activities.

“Hoodlums and criminal elements are once again warned to be law abiding and not cause any breach of peace. ‘’We, hereby, reiterate that our troops would conduct themselves in the best professional manner, abide by the Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct in line with requirements of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Any act of indiscipline by any of our personnel would be decisively dealt with.

‘’While we enjoin all Nigerians to go about their normal businesses, the Nigerian Army urge all to support the troops as they carry out their constitutional duties and make exercise EGWU EKE II a success.’’

Governor Ikpeazu had earlier spoken amid reports of heavy shooting around IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu’s home in Umuahia, Thursday, with about four persons alkegedly killed which, however, could not be confirmed at press time.

The announcement came as 82 Division of Nigerian Army said it was investigating a video clip trending on social media and other platforms purportedly showing troops humiliating some people at a check-point in Abia State.

Also, on Thurssay, the  Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, said the police hierarchy was in touch with South-East governors, asking them to mobilize political leaders on how to intervene in the charged security situation in the zone.

Similarly, Plateau State governor, Solomon Lalong, Thursday, declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the state, following tension that trailed reports that an indigene was allegedly killed by some members of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, in Abia State.

Giving security update of the state at a media briefing, Governor Ikpeazu called for calm and urged the people of the state to go about their lawful businesses.

He said:  “Gentlemen of the press, permit me to use this medium to update my brothers and sisters of Abia State origin, and those living and doing business in the state on the current security situation.

“Dear brothers and sisters, the security situation in the state in the past few days, which led to the deployment of soldiers into our state ahead of the Operation Python dance 11, has become of great concern to both the government and the citizenry.

“After several interventions, I want to inform you that by tomorrow morning (today), there will be withdrawal of soldiers from the streets of Aba and Umuahia, apart from the pre-existing military checkpoints at various locations in the state.

“With the expected exit of soldiers from the streets, we must warn that we will not tolerate agitators and protesters taking over the streets for any reason at all.

“I will also be meeting the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, to discuss possible ways of relaxing the Operation Python dance 11 in the state for now.

“Our attention has been drawn to ugly incidences of attacks on police stations and military posts at Aba and Umuahia and we hereby warn that we will no longer tolerate that, and all other acts that are capable of causing insecurity in the state.

“We have also observed illegal acts of throwing petrol bombs and setting up of bonfires to obstruct free movements along some roads by suspected miscreants and wish to warn that such acts should stop forthwith.

“To mischief makers who want to use Abia as their base, let me announce to you that henceforth, Abia will be too hot for you to carry out your wicked acts as the Government will work with security agents to ensure the protection of lives and properties in the state without fear or favour. There will be no hiding place for you.

“At about midnight yesterday, we received security reports that hoodlums and miscreants, some of whom were allegedly brought into the state by unscrupulous individuals, were mobilizing around Uratta Road at Aba with a view to converging at Ariaria International Market to burn it down. Their aim was obviously to take advantage of the security situation in the state to cripple the economy of the state and cause widespread suffering.

“It was this group that originated the rumours of attacks and counter-attacks around the area and also tried to create panic to force people out of their homes to enable them execute their evil intentions under the cover of orchestrated crises.

“Thankfully their plan was nipped in the bud by the combined team of soldiers and policemen that promptly moved to the area and later positioned around Ariaria market to protect the lives and properties of our people.

“My fellow Abians, it is in the interest of all our citizens and residents for full and total peace and security to return to our state immediately. No meaningful progress can be made in an atmosphere of violence and anarchy.

“Those at Aba are therefore advised to fully observe the current curfew in the city and ensure that they cooperate with security agents to maintain peace and order.

“I swore to protect lives and properties of all Abians and residents and that I must do. I, therefore, call on all to support our efforts at making sure that lasting peace prevails in our dear state”, Ikpeazu said.

We’re investigating trending video—Army

In a statement, yesterday, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division Nigerian Army, Colonel Sagir Musa, said the command’s attention was drawn to the video showing troops humiliating some people at a check point in Abia State.

“The issue is being investigated with the view to ascertain the source and the actors in the clip. Our Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement are quite clear and any officer or soldier that infringed on any of such directive, if found guilty, will face full wrath of the military justice system.

“We would like to inform the public that 82 Division is also aware of the planned misinformation and propaganda arrangement by the secessionist Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

“They intend to churn out pre-recorded video clips aimed at discrediting the Nigerian Army, causing disaffection among the citizens of this country. They will be using bogus, manipulated and photoshopped photographs as well as video clips.

“The public should be wary of such mischief, scrutinize and report same to the Nigerian Army or any of security agencies,” said Musa.

We’re talking with South East govs to mobilize political leaders – IGP

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris stated this in an interview with State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The police boss said that the highlight of the meeting with Vice President was to “obviously ensure that our provision of security in the country is intact.”

Asked whether he was monitoring events in the South-East and the strategies he had adopted so far to restore peace, he said: “Obviously, one, is to deploy policemen across the country. Two, we are in touch with the state governments, trying to mobilize the political leadership to be able to intervene where necessary on how to lessen the tension in the South-East.”

Abia CP transferred

Meantime, the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Leye Oyebade, has been redeployed and replaced by Mr. Anthony Michael.

At a brief handover ceremony, yesterday, at the Police Headquarters in Umuahia, Oyebade said the command under his watch recorded tremendous success and wished his successor well.

It could not be confirmed if the commissioner’s transfer was connected with the Abia crisis or the recent escape of some kidnap suspects from police detention at the headquarters.

The command had already dismissed six personnel in connection with the escape of the suspects, some of whom have been rearrested.

30 IPOB members remanded

Meanwhile, a chief magistrate’s court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Thursday, remanded 30 members of IPOB in prison over alleged involvement in the crisis that rocked Oyigbo area of the state on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The suspects were arrested by the Police Command in the course of the incident in which two persons died, a police Sergeant, Mr. Steven Daniel was killed and his rifle taken away and several property damaged.

Nine of the suspects were accused of killing Daniel, while the others are facing trial for causing unrest and other criminal acts.

In two separate charge sheets, PMC/1936c/2017 and PMC/1935c/2017, the accused persons were charged with treason, murder, armed robbery, felony, unlawful assembly, unlawful protest and other sundry crimes.

When the matter came up in court, the charges were not read to the accused persons and pleas were not taken because the court declined jurisdiction to entertain it.

However, presiding chief magistrate, Amadi O. Amadi-Nna ordered the court registrar to remit the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, for legal advice and adjourned sine die.

The defence, Donald Loho, had urged the court to return the case file to the chief judge of the state high court to interpret and assign the matter to an appropriate court that has jurisdiction.

Speaking outside the court room with journalists, the Prosecution Counsel, SP Enoch George, said: “We came here for remand and proceedings. Naturally, the defendants have their lawyers and they also raised legal issues that the court does not have jurisdiction and that the court should strike out the charges and discharge them. But we the prosecutors decided that the charge for which they were brought to court is very heavy and weighty.

“Some of the accused persons were charged under Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Justice Law in Rivers State, which is murder, some were charged under Section 69, 70 which is unlawful assembly, procession and others and some of them were charged for treasonable felony.”