Barely three days after invading Onyike Street, along Port Harcourt road, Aba, Abia State; soldiers of the Nigerian Army, numbering over 100, have stormed Abala community in Obingwa local government area of Abia state over the missing rifles which they were said to have lost to pro-Biafra protesters, last week.
Recall that soldiers, who were drafted to Aba to check the pro Biafra protests by MASSOB and IPOB members, penultimate Monday, allegedly lost two AK 47 rifles to the protesters, and have since gone berserk, harassing and beating up residents.
The soldiers who stormed the community in about 10 patrol vans were said to have embarked on indiscriminate arrest of youths, who they threw into detention, threatening not to release them until the missing rifles are found.
A source said the arrested residents have been released, but this could not be confirmed as at the time of filing this report.
247ureports.com gathered that the situation has created panic in the community as residents now live in fear, not knowing when the soldiers will strike again.
According to a resident of the community who spoke on the condition of anonymity, “We just saw soldiers at the Abala market square; they arrested some youths and took them away. There are rumours that they are looking for their missing rifles. No Abala son is a member of MASOB or IPOB; so, how can soldiers invade our community and arrest youths who committed no offence?
The resident insisted that the era when Abala community was a haven for criminal activities had gone, stressing that in the present era, suspected persons are immediately arrested and handed over to security agents.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Army Public Relations Officer, Major S Mbaneme, proved abortive. However, a military source told 247ureports.com that the soldiers only went on surveillance and did not beat up or arrest any resident of Abala community. “The visit to Abala community was just a routine surveillance. We visited the traditional ruler of the community. I’m not aware if anybody was arrested.”
