Army apologises for invasion of Abia journalists centre

The Commander of the 14 Brigade Nigeria Army, Ohafia, Brigadier
General Abdul Kalifah Ibrahim has condemned the military invasion
of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Umuahia on
Tuesday.

The Army Chief who visited the Press Centre in company of the
Naval Command and School of Finance Logistics Owerrinta Capt
Abdulahi Aminu apologised for the attack, describing it as a
disaster of unimaginable proportion.

General 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.

While commending the journalists for their comportment and
maturity during the invasion, the General promised to pay for the
gadgets damaged by his men.

He also promised to pay for the cell phone belonging to one of
the journalists which went missing after the attack and warned
soldiers to respect the rights of civilians during the operation
python dance.

After his visit, the deputy Director of Army Information, Col
Musa Sagay in Enugu came on behalf of the officer in charge of 82
division of the Nigerian Army, 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 is 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 spoiled.

“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 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 session agitators,” Sagay
stated.

Col Sagay insisted that there is no military siege at the home
of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu as being reported in some sections
of the media, adding that the issue of insurgency starts in a small
way which the soldiers will not allow.

In his response Ezeogo Bonny Okoro said that it was a shame that
the military would invade the NUJ state secretariat over the flimsy
excuse that journalists were taking their pictures.

Okoro wondered why the soldiers will not want their pictures
taken as journalists would have been doing their job if such action
occurred on the side of newsmen which never took place.

He said that he was slapped, gun cocked at him while his IPad
and the phones of his colleagues were smashed by the soldiers and
called on the military hierarchy to fish out those behind the
dastardly act and deal with them accordingly.

The Commander of the 14 Brigade Nigeria Army, Ohafia, Brigadier
General Abdul Kalifah Ibrahim has condemned the military invasion
of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Umuahia on
Tuesday.

The Army Chief who visited the Press Centre in company of the
Naval Command and School of Finance Logistics Owerrinta Capt
Abdulahi Aminu apologised for the attack, describing it as a
disaster of unimaginable proportion.

General 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.

While commending the journalists for their comportment and
maturity during the invasion, the General promised to pay for the
gadgets damaged by his men.

He also promised to pay for the cell phone belonging to one of
the journalists which went missing after the attack and warned
soldiers to respect the rights of civilians during the operation
python dance.

After his visit, the deputy Director of Army Information, Col
Musa Sagay in Enugu came on behalf of the officer in charge of 82
division of the Nigerian Army, 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 is 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 spoiled.

“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 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 session agitators,” Sagay
stated.

Col Sagay insisted that there is no military siege at the home
of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu as being reported in some sections
of the media, adding that the issue of insurgency starts in a small
way which the soldiers will not allow.

In his response Ezeogo Bonny Okoro said that it was a shame that
the military would invade the NUJ state secretariat over the flimsy
excuse that journalists were taking their pictures.

Okoro wondered why the soldiers will not want their pictures
taken as journalists would have been doing their job if such action
occurred on the side of newsmen which never took place.

He said that he was slapped, gun cocked at him while his IPad
and the phones of his colleagues were smashed by the soldiers and
called on the military hierarchy to fish out those behind the
dastardly act and deal with them accordingly.