By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Contrary to reports making the rounds, the female personnel of the Nigerian Army abducted by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has not been rescued.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, it was disclosed that the female officer, Lieutenant PP Johnson, was still in the den of the hoodlums.
She was forcefully taken into custody by the gunmen Monday, December 26, 2022, while visiting her grandmother in Aku-Okigwe in Imo State, shortly after completion of her cadet training and subsequent commissioning as a Lieutenant into the Nigerian Army.
Video footage of her abduction had emerged on social media where her abductors claimed it was in line with their fight for Biafra against the Nigerian State.
On Thursday, there were images of persons believed to be her abductors, and it was reported that the military had rescued her.
But Mr Nwachukwu described this as false, noting that search efforts were still ongoing.
“The NA wishes to state that the information making the rounds is unsubstantiated as the officer is yet to be released or rescued from her abductors.
“Likewise, the video footage being circulated and associated with the rescue claim is an old video of the arrest of a suspect earlier [carried out] by troops.
“Much as we appreciate the concern and goodwill of the general public for her safe rescue, we also wish to note that the information on the rescue of the officer did not emanate from the NA.
“The Nigerian Army will leave no stone unturned in its effort to rescue the officer and bring the perpetrators to book.
“We appeal to the general public to provide credible and reliable information that could lead to her safe rescue and arrest of the perpetrators,” the army spokesman said.
The Nigerian Army stressed that the abduction of Ms Johnson, who is of South Eastern extraction, “is another pointer to the myriads of crimes being unleashed by IPOB/ ESN on Ndigbo, the very people they claim to be fighting for their emancipation.”
According to the statement, her origin “did not dissuade her abductors from dehumanizing her in their mindless attempt to commit atrocities under the guise of fighting for Biafra.”
“This evidently It should therefore be crystal clear to those who are still in doubt of the true status of these groups that IPOB/ESN are terrorists, masquerading as freedom fighters and do not deserve the support of anyone, particularly the good people of South East Nigeria,” it emphasised.
