Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
The Nigerian Army has committed to drive out all criminals from the local communities in the wake of a string of unrest and assaults on soldiers in Abia state’s Ohafia Local Government Area.
On Wednesday, gunmen killed a young woman and a soldier before engaging Brigade forces in a gunfight before being driven from the area.
Brigadier General Adegoke Adetuyi, commander of the 14th Brigade in Ohafia, warned that he was not sent to the region to “romance” any criminals but rather to uphold the law and do everything in his power to keep peace in Ohafia and its surroundings. He made this statement while receiving representatives of traditional leaders and elders of Ohafia.
Adetuyi, who has taken over as the Brigade’s new commander, denounced the recent incident that occurred in the neighborhood and resulted in the deaths of a young soldier and a woman by suspected IPOB/ESN members, reiterating his promise that no criminals in the neighborhoods would escape punishment.
In reference to the killing of the young woman by alleged IPOB members, he urged the traditional leaders to urge their people to shun violence, embrace peace, and stop harboring criminals in their communities. This would help prevent innocent citizens from suffering needless hardships or injuries.
All parties involved are urged to report to the Army any activity that threatens community peace and security, the Commander said, adding that such cooperation is essential to success.
“We must exert every effort to drive out all criminal forces from Ohafia and its surroundings. As Brigade Commander, I wasn’t dispatched to Ohafia to fall in love with any criminals; instead, I was ordered to follow all legal procedures to keep the peace in Ohafia and its surroundings. Traditional leaders must urge their people to reject violence, uphold peace, and cease harboring criminals in their neighborhoods. To prevent incidents like the murder of the young woman by IPOB members or other harm to innocent persons, Adetuyi argued that this must be done.
He claimed that the delegates needed to sign an agreement to guarantee their unwavering support for Ohafia’s peace and security. The delegation signed the agreement after approving the proposal.
Earlier, Dr. Okoroafor Ukiwe, the chairman of the Ohafia Local Government Area, expressed his condolences to the commander over the death of the soldier and said that the council appreciated the military’s efforts to secure Ohafia and the surrounding area.
Ukiwe told the Commander that the council places a high priority on making sure that the incident doesn’t recur in the neighborhood.
