Imo: We shall find killers of JTF team members —Army
The Nigerian Army has vowed to find the gunmen who allegedly ambushed and killed five members of the Joint Task Force – Operation Search and Flush (OP SAF) in Imo State.
Meanwhile, military authorities have remained silent on the soldiers’ retaliatory burning of villages and businesses in Obowo community in the state’s Ehime Mbano Local Government Area.
Major General Hassan Dada, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division Nigerian Army and Commander of the Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA II, stated that the army would bring the criminals to justice.
Dada said this while visiting soldiers who survived the attack in Owerri’s hospital.
On Tuesday, unknown gunmen attacked and killed eight security personnel attached to the Joint Task Force – OP SAF, then burned their two patrol vehicles along the Owerri Onitsha highway at Obowo community in the Ehime Mbano Local Government Area Council.
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However, the authorities said five were killed and that some of those shot survived.
Later, some soldiers returned to the community and burned down markets, houses, and businesses in what appeared to be a reprisal.
However, the GOC in a statement issued by the Acting Deputy Director, 82 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, while extending the appreciation of both the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff to the soldiers, thanked them for their selfless sacrifice towards the restoration of peace in Imo State and the entire Southeast region by extension.
He stated that the soldiers would receive the greatest medical care possible at no expense, and he hoped for their rapid recovery.
According to the statement, Maj. Gen. Dada afterward conducted sympathy visits to the leaders of sister security organizations that had troops killed in the tragedy.
He asked everyone to stay focused and determined to end the bloodshed in the Southeast region. He also told them that their already friendly relationship would be reinforced.