The people of Owaza community in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State have petitioned the Chief of Army Staff, Brig Gen Tukur Buratai over the alleged harassment of their kinsman by some army officers attached to the 144 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Asa.
Two army officers were in September, 2020, killed at Owaza by some unknown gunmen who also carted away riffles belonging to the officers.
But the Owaza community in a Save Our Soul (SOS) call through their youth leader, Mr Fineboy Edeh, alleged that indigenes of Owaza were being harassed on daily basis over the killing incident. Fineboy noted that his community has condemned the killing of soldiers by unknown men, but regretted that people of Owaza now live in fear of intimidation by soldiers who are in search of their missing gun.
Fineboy claimed that social activities like burial events, marriage ceremonies and even farming activities have been suspended because of the alleged invasion of the oil-rich town by army officers.
He appealed to General Tukur Buratai to intervene on their plight, while assuring of his community’s support for any genuine investigation by the Army.
He narrated that the family of one late Nze Titus Nwankpa of Umuakata village of Owaza had approached security agencies for a permission to bury their late father, in a brief burial ceremony recently.
Edeh however bemoaned that on the day of the said burial; some army officers stormed the burial and arrested one of the mourners who was later released after three days in detention.
According to the youth leader, business activities have been crippled as people closed shops for fear of the unknown.
Recall that Abia State government late September, 2020, placed a N2.5 million naira bounty on anybody or group with information that would lead to the arrest of killers of army and police officers in parts of the State.
