The Assistant Director of Army Public Relations at the Fourteen Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Major OYEGOKE GBADAMOSI said claims in some quarters that troops invaded the home of IPOB leader and killed three persons are fictitious.
Major GBADAMOSI disclosed in a statement that suspected IPOB members had blocked the road against troops of 145 Battalion while on a “show of force” exercise along FMC-World Bank Road in Umuahia.
The Army spokesman said the IPOB members insisted that the military vehicles would not pass the area and started pelting the soldiers with stones and broken bottles.
He confirmed that a female passerby and a soldier identified as Corporal KOLAWOLE MATHEW were injured, just as the troops fired warning shots in the air.
Major GBADAMOSI said both the soldier and the female passerby were immediately evacuated to the Medical Inspection Room for treatment.
The Director of Defence Information, Major-General JOHN ENENCHE confirmed the position of the Army spokesman while responding to question on a live television programme monitored in Port Harcourt.
Major General ENENCHE said the troops were on routine exercise, as against claims that they were on combat mission.
Major-General JOHN ENENCHE is the Director of Defence Information.
