The Commander, 14 Brigade, Nigeria Army, Ohafia, Brigadier General
Abdul Kalifah Ibrahim has apologised to journalists. Nigerian soldiers
invaded the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Umuahia
destroying properties worth thousands of naira.
While condemning the attack, the Army Chief, who visited the Press
Centre in company of the Naval Commander, School of Finance and
Logistics Owerrinta, Capt Abdulahi Aminu described it as a disaster of
unimaginable proportion.
Ibrahim promised to fish out the soldiers who carried out the
unauthorised operation with a view to sanctioning them and called on
journalists not to allow the invasion of their office to cause any bad
blood between the army and them.
In a report by DailyPost, it was gathered that after Aminu’s visit,
the deputy Director of Information, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu,
Col Musa Sagay, also came calling on behalf of the General Officer
Commanding the Division, Major Gen Adamu Abubakar and condemned the
action of the soldiers.
Col Sagay said immediately his boss heard what happened, he was
detailed to go to Umuahia to meet with journalists and appeal to them
for calm as the Army was on top of the situation.
“It is regrettable that this ugly incident happened to a group
of people I have known and worked with since 2010-2011 when kidnapping
was at its peak in the state and I would not want that cordial
relationship to be destroyed.
“I am in Umuahia on behalf of my boss Gen Abubakar who is the
commander of 82 Div Enugu to express our concern over what happened on
Tuesday which is not the normal way we operate.
“I want to assure you that all those who took part in the
action against journalists will be fished out and dealt with
accordingly. The Operation Egwu Eke (Python Dance) will commence from
15th of September to 14th of October and the exercise is not targeted at
any group.
“The exercise is targeted at all security flash points in the
entire South East geopolitical zone which is the reason behind the army
show of force but it is targeted at kidnappings, armed robbery, cultism,
insurgency and secession agitators,” Sagay stated.