The Naval Outpost Onitsha, has declared that its personnel killed six suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra in a gun duel on Monday over the sit-at-home order issued by the group.
The Naval Outpost made the declaration in a statement refuting media reports that suspected IPOB members killed two of its personnel in a gun attack at Awkuzu, in the state.
The rebuttal was contained in a statement by the Commander Officer, Adekunle Okeniyi, who said that six suspected IPOB members died while others suffered injuries during a repel attack by the troops.
The statement said: “The attention of the Naval Outpost, Onitsha has been drawn to some false publications that on the 9th August 2001, two naval personnel were killed at Awkuzu during a gun duel with suspected Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Anambra state.
“The Naval Outpost Onitsha clearly refutes this fake news and wishes to state categorically that none of own personnel suffered any casualty during the gun duel.
“Rather, the troops fought gallantly and were able to repel the attack which resulted in the loss of six suspected IPOB members while others suffered serious injury.
“For the avoidance of doubt the Naval Outpost Onitsha calls for an immediate halt to the circulation of this fake news and wishes to advise the general public to disregard this fake news.”
IPOB members were enforcing the sit-at-home order issued by the group as part of its protest against the detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. IPOB had said that the protest would hold every Monday until Kanu is released.
