ARMED FORCES IN SEARCH OF ABDUCTED SOLDIER KILL FOUR, RECOVER WEAPONS

On Wednesday, the Nigerian Army said that some soldiers from the Amangu community in Abia state's Headquarters 82 Division NA had invaded and killed some locals.

The assertion was debunked on Thursday by Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations.

He said that while Staff Sergeant Bassey Ikunugwan was supposed to be on leave, he was actually kidnapped along the Road Okwu-Ebem Ohafia in Abia State. He said that the troops were looking for Ikunugwan.

"Acting on credible intelligence reports, troops embarked on a Search and Rescue Operation at Amangu Village/Forest, having confirmed same as an Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) enclave, where the soldier was reportedly held hostage,” he said.

According to him, during the search and rescue operations, forces came into contact with members of the banned armed groups, which led to a firefight in which they neutralized one of the criminals and found an AK-47 weapon, a mobile phone, and a magazine loaded with seven rounds of 7.62mm (Special).

In a follow-up interview, he said that on November 5, 2022, troops stormed another group's hideout near Amangu Village in Abia State, neutralized two criminals, and fled with others who had been shot.

He said that the soldiers found two locally built AK-47 weapons, four Pump Action rifles, a pistol made in the area, a sniper rifle, six magazines, 13 NATO 7.62mm bullets, and a motorcycle.

Additionally, there were two CCTV cameras, a solar panel, two mobile phones, two pamphlets with the Biafran National Anthem, an INEC box, 12 face caps, machetes, pairs of combat boots, pairs of rain boots, camouflage uniforms, a transistor radio, two jungle hats, two knee guards, a power bank, and a PVC.

He claimed that one soldier was lost by the forces and added that the NA would do everything possible to find the missing soldier.