MILITARY IMPERSONATION: SOLDIERS STORMS OKIJA IN ANAMBRA – – The officers of the Nigerian Army 302 Artillery Division Onitsha led by Lt. Col P.A.Adeke, Commander 14 Army Engineer regiment Onitsha, stormed Ihite Okija in Ihiala Local Government of Anambra State over a report made by the Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt Rev Ndubisi Chukwuka Obi, over the incursion, encroachment, threat, intimidation and harassment of workers at the site, by some hoodlums on army uniform who equally hoisted a military signpost ”Military Zone Keep off” on their land in Ihite Okija.

One of the casual workers at the site, Mr Paul Nwanya from Ebonyi state, was also reported missing on the 26th May, 2020, and has not been seen.

In his words, Hon. Engr. H.C. Nsofor, KSC, the Project Coordinator, Anglican Diocese land at Ihite Okija, stated that ”we came to work on the directive of the the Anglican Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Rt Rev. Ndubuisi Obi to fence the entire land bought by the Church in 1978 and to raise structures for the church of God and an agricultural institute and farm inorder to develop the community, However, one Mr Donatus Mmegwa, Mr Innocent Ihejirika alias Omego, Mr Chigozie Ezeruo,A zuka Anadi and Innocent Anadi now all at large led thugs on army comourflage to attack the workers on the site, unleasing mayhem on them while injuring others”.

“Our investigation revealed that the accused in connivance with some family members of the defunct land owners engaged in the grabbing and reselling of the land already bought by the Church, as such their nefarious activities informed our decision to visit the Nigerian Army Barracks, Onitsha where we enquired on why they sent their officers to accompany hoodlums to attack law abiding citizens and they vehemently denied sending any of their officers, they further invited the accused persons who instead of honouring the invitation went into hiding.”

While speaking to the villagers, Lt. Col PA Adeke rhetorically enquired from the villagers if there is a military barracks in Ihite Okija and further informed them that the Nigerian Law did not authorise any civilian to threaten and intimidate other law abiding citizens with the military officers.

He informed the Villagers about the action of some of their sons who imported fake military personnel into Ihite Okija who in turn terrorized the law abiding members of their community.

Lt. Col Adeke demanded that the community produce the accused persons who not only brought fake military personnel into the community but went ahead to mount a military sign post urging the owners of the land to keep off.

He further advised the community that if any of them had issues with one another, such persons should approach the law court to express their grievances and seek for redress and not to drag the name of the Nigerian Army into mud by importing fake military personnel thus discrediting the army whose constitutional duty is to defend the territory of Nigeria from aggression of the enermies and not to mediate in land disputes.

In their response, the spokesman of the community, Ide Nwabugwu Gregory and some of the elders of Ihite Okija denied knowledge of any signpost bearing military insignia in their community and assured the Lt. Col Adeke that the community shall without hesitation provide the accused whose actions were capable of bringing crisis to their peaceful community.

Lt. Col Adeke, military officers, accompanied by the Villagers and clergymen went to the land where the military signpost was mounted and removed the signpost and advised the community members to remain law abiding citizens of the Nigerians.

Amb Timothy Nwachukwu