Troops of the Nigeria Army have arrested a 75-year-old woman, Juliana Babe Onyeukwu and her son, Chisom Julius Onyeukwu, during a raid on some communities in Abia following the killing of five soldiers in Aba, the state capital.
The soldiers were killed on May 30 by gunmen who were reportedly enforcing the sit-at-home order of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The gunmen opened fire on a military checkpoint in Obikabia junction in the Aba Local Government Area, killing the soldiers.
The Nigerian military later vowed to retaliate the killing of the soldiers by the suspected IPOB members.
On Sunday, a resident of one of the communities, Umuala Ngwa Obi 1 accused some Nigerian soldiers of detaining her 75-year-old mother and brother without providing any explanation.
She called for the intervention of the state government, the Nigerian Army and well-meaning Nigerians to secure the release of her loved ones.
According to the woman, her mother and brother were taken away by the soldiers. She said no information was given regarding the reason for their arrest or their whereabouts.
She added that the incident had left her family in panic and fear.
She said, “Around 2 am this morning, my elder brother heard a noise at my uncle’s compound which is next to our own because my uncle had handed over the house to him including the tenants living there.
“He decided to go and check what was happening in the compound with the little boy that lives with him, only for him to get there and some people who said that they were from the Nigerian Army got him arrested.
“They started beating him and took him back to our house and searched everywhere. They found nothing to nail him with. Then they took my mum with him alongside our tenant living in my father’s house. Since 2 am till now, nobody has heard from them or knows where they are.
“Please, help report to the Nigerian Army, Abia State government and the relevant authorities. They injured him. They should free my elder brother and mother; they are innocent of whatever is happening in Abia State.”
Meanwhile, efforts made by media to get the reaction of the Nigerian Army were unsuccessful as its spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu did not answer his calls.
He also did not reply to a text message sent to his mobile line.
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