How Nigerian Army Disrupted Christmas Eve Church Services And Movements At Egudene-Nkanu, Killed Two And Arrested A 40 Year-Old Mason And Labeled Him “ESN Commander”



Intersociety, Eastern Nigeria, Wednesday, 29th Dec 2021

Contrary to a statement issued on Monday, 27th December 2021 in Enugu by the Nigerian Army through its Director of Public Relations, Brig General Onyema Nwachukwu and widely published in various print and electronic media; the claims by the Army that “it arrested a wanted notorious ESN Commander in Enugu State” is thousands of miles away from what actually transpired in Egudene-Ekpofu in Nkanu East of Enugu State where the Nigerian Army claimed to have conducted its “clearance” operation. As a matter of fact, the Nigerian Army cooked up the statement to cover backlash and outcries arising from its murderous operation of the Night of 24th/25th December 2021 at the Egudene-Ekpofu; a third murderous operation and invasion in the row since the start of 2021. Contrarily, findings made by Intersociety regarding the Army’s murderous operation are factually and irrefutably in contrast with the Nigerian Army claims which are shocking, vexatious, fallacious, watery, irritating, annoying, hateful, clannish and crude. In other words, contrary to the Army’s claims, there was no “clearance operations at a camp suspected to be the fortress of ESN at Akpowfu Forest n Nkanu East during which troops engaged the dissidents in a fire fight compelling them to take to their heels, leading to the arrest of their leader, from whom the troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, one magazine containing 21 rounds of 7.62mm special bullets and one telephone handset from Nnamdi”.



Rather, and according to Intersociety’s detailed investigative findings, the soldiers of the Nigerian Army had between forbidden hours of 24th and 25th Night of December 2021 invaded Egudene-Ekpofu in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State and raided popular squares and quarters and several family houses during which Christmas Eve Church services and inter and inter communal movements were disrupted, forcing several citizens of the Community to flee their homes into the forests or across their neighboring friendly villages. The soldiers had also during the sinister operation attacked and raided houses and destroyed properties including doors, windows, electronics, etc; disrupted sleep, assaulted married and unmarried women and woke children from their sleep and traumatized them.



The soldiers of the Nigerian Army under Enugu 82 Division also killed two defenseless citizens including a 13-year old boy (Master Arum from Ohuakpaka Quarters) who was shot and killed when his parents’ bedroom and its doors were broken into and as he was running helplessly for his dear life, the soldiers opened fire on him at close range and killed him instantly. The soldiers also shot and killed a yet-to-be middle-age man whose corpse was dumped at Obodo Nnemede Nwannaji near Onokolo Ode in the Community. As if the above dastardly acts were not enough, the soldiers also sighted a palm wine tapper on a palm tree and opened fire and fatally wounded him. He is presently admitted at the Enugu Specialist Hospital. Not done, the soldiers accosted another up-wine (palm) tapper and dispossessed him of his 5 gallons of up-wine valued at N25, 000. His name is Citizen Chigozie Obushi.



Through the use of threatened and terrified locals as “informants” who were forced to show them the dwelling houses of the Community’s young men of productive age bracket (20-50 years), the soldiers attacked and invaded several houses that same late night of 24th/25th December 2021 and abducted scores from their sleep. Also not spared were the late night Christmas returnees and those returning from Christmas Eve Church services as well as those attending Christmas morning Church services. The Army’s killer operation had commenced close to midnight of Christmas Even or 24th December 2021 and lasted till the morning of Christmas being 25th December 2021. It must be recalled that the Nigerian Army had in one of its two previous operations in the outgoing year in Egudene-Ekpofu-Nkanu Community forced a meeting between the elders and leaders of the Community and troops’ leaders at the Community’s popular market square during which the Army mandated the Community (Ekpofu) to compile the list of all the youths in the Community and hand same over to them (Army), failing which the Army would invade the Community constantly and treat all its youths as “ESN Members”. The Nigerian Army’s grouse against the Community and its neighbors followed the March 2020 dislodgement of Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen from the Be Atunshi big Forest from where the Jihadists abduct and rape their non-menopausal women and kill others, chase them out of their farmlands and occupy them.





The True Identity Of A 40 Year-Old Mason Labeled “ESN Commander”

By a detailed investigation carried out by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law and contrary to the Nigerian Army claims, the so called “ESN Commander”, identified by the Army as “Godwin Nnamdi”, is a 40 Year-Old Mason and struggling father of two children. His true name is Citizen Godwin Nnaji (not Godwin Nnamdi). His other identities are: He is 40 Year-Old born in 1981 and hails from Umuode Ega Kindred of Egudene in Ajame Amaeze Autonomous Community, Ekpofu in Nkanu East, Enugu State. He is unarmed and never used offensive violence. He is a Mason by occupation who struggles to feed himself, his wife and two children. Abducted and falsely labeled Citizen Godwin Nnaji is married to Mrs. Blessing Nnaji (nee Nnaji) from Ogonogo-Eji Ndiagu Akpugo Autonomous Community in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State. He was abducted from his rest and sleep following his sick-rest arising from work related stress and pains. He had taken some pain relief tablets and was sleeping when soldiers stormed his family house at about 12:21am on the Christmas Eve/early morning of 25th December 2021 and abducted him. Presence in the family’s dwelling house during his abduction were his mother-Madam Theresa Nnaji and two of his siblings including his blind younger brother, Onyema Nnaji who was also rough-handled and assaulted. Citizen Godwin Nnaji was fallaciously labeled “ESN Commander” because a bangle with ‘rising sun’ insignia was found on him. The soldiers later took him alongside other abductees to the 82 Division Headquarters in Enugu through Inyaba River into Oruku town and drove to their 82 Division Headquarters through Emene. After his abduction, Citizen Godwin Nnaji was bundled alongside others to Onokolo Market Square in the Community where he was mercilessly beaten and stripped half naked. He has been located to be detained at ‘Galaxy Detention Camp’ of the 82 Division in Enugu and one of his younger brothers who went to see him was denied access by the lady Army officer in charge who said she is under superior instructions not to allow him to be visited or seen by anybody.



Therefore, the claims by the Nigerian Army highlighted above are circumstantially fallacious and trademark of the Nigerian security forces particularly the Nigerian Army with which they have framed, abducted and killed hundreds of defenseless and unarmed citizens of Southeast and South-south Nigeria especially between October 2020 and December 2021. Attached in this investigative statement are photos of Citizen Godwin Nnaji, his mother (Madam Theresa) and blind or visually challenged younger brother (Onyema). Citizen Godwin Nnaji’s mother and blind younger brother were pictured standing in front of their dwelling house entrance door which soldiers smashed during the late night invasion and abduction. As a matter of fact and uttermost immediacy and inexcusability, Citizen Godwin Nnaji must be freed unconditionally; likewise others abducted and being held captive by the soldiers of the 82 Division in Enugu. The Nigerian Army must also let the affected Communities particularly Egudene-Ekpofu be and discontinue all forms of siege and associated brutalization and riotous brigandage in the area.



Soldiers Remotely Holding Brief For Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen

Available indictable statistics have continued to show in the instant case that Nigerian Army is strongly holding brief for Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen in Nkanu East and Nkanu West particularly in Egudene-Ekpofu, Oruku, Amechi Idoodo, Amegunze and other ‘forest zone’ Communities in the area. The travail of the named Communities particularly Egudene-Ekpofu in the hands of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies started in March 2020 when Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen were quietly dislodged and matched out of their joint big Forest called “Be Atunshi Forest”; a big Forest between Amechi Idoodo, Amegunze and Ekpofu Communities. Since then, the Nigerian Army has not allowed the people of the area to rest and have peace. As a matter of fact, soldiers have invaded and attacked the area at least three times since the start of the 2021 following the dislodgment of Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and in the August 2021 attack, four defenseless citizens of Egudene-Ekpofu were shot dead and scores of others abducted. There have also been strong accusations that Nigerian Army’s several attacks in the area are remotely in revenge and plot to overrun the affected Communities so as to clear grounds for the return of Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen in the area. Local eyewitnesses have strongly alleged encampment of herds of cows and their herders mixed with Jihadist Marauders in Oruku and Amechi Idoodo waiting for the way to be cleared for them to re-enter the big ‘Be Atunshi Forest’. As a matter of fact, we have it on good authority that the marauding Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen have just re-entered the big Be Atunshi Forest 48 hours ago.



Signed

For: International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law-INTERSOCIETY

Principal Officers: Emeka Umeagbalasi, Chinwe Umeche, Esquire and Chidimma Udegbunam, Esquire

Contacts: Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: +2348174090052, Email: info@intersociety-ng.org, Website: https://intersociety-ng.org

I don't even know what to say...


I know the story sounds pathetic...

But,

Who knows whether the story is true or false..
Any thing cumin from Ipob is hard to believe .. >:

God bless Nigerian army

Abdul05:

ewuru
He will smile when innocent souls are killed,Karma will surely visit you and your likes

It will not last. Those whose job is to disturb innocent peaceful Igbo people will have their homes taken over by bandits and their mothers raped under the hot sun. You think you can come to Igbo land and do anyhow and expect Carma not to take its course.

In kastina,sokoto,zamfara etc( the soldiers home states) there will be chaos and their mothers and sisters will be raped under the scorching sun by bandits.

Arda1000:
ewuru
He will smile when innocent souls are killed,Karma will surely visit you and your likes

Abdul05 ...is not the one responsible for all the calamities that befell the people of south east...


Since ,you have no sensible thing to say why didn't you leave the room?

nigerianrevolut:

It must be recalled that the Nigerian Army had in one of its two previous operations in the outgoing year in Egudene-Ekpofu-Nkanu Community forced a meeting between the elders and leaders of the Community and troops’ leaders at the Community’s popular market square during which the Army mandated the Community (Ekpofu) to compile the list of all the youths in the Community and hand same over to them (Army), failing which the Army would invade the Community constantly and treat all its youths as “ESN Members”. The Nigerian Army’s grouse against the Community and its neighbors followed the March 2020 dislodgement of Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen from the Be Atunshi big Forest from where the Jihadists abduct and rape their non-menopausal women and kill others, chase them out of their farmlands and occupy them.

May those soldiers reap bitterness!

Abdul05:
I don't even know what to say...


I know the story sounds pathetic...

But,

Who knows whether the story is true or false..
Any thing cumin from Ipob is hard to believe .. >:

. Look at the thing I share the same space with

God,why

That's why state police needs to be set up immediately. Governors needs to be in charge of securing the state 100%. Who born soldier or Fulani herdsmen to kill people in any state when they know they will be arrested and dealt with. The soldiers are doing all these because they know they are doing what the federal terrorist government asked them to do.

If Nigerian leaders wants to really tackle security issues of Fulani herdsmen and police/soldier brutality, then the governors must make sure that they control security in their States 100% so that any police or soldier who wants to take any action in the state must do that only through the authorities of the state security body under the governor and not the federal government.

State police is the solution to all these wreckless killings and herdsmen menace.

EmmaJnr1:
That's why state police needs to be set up immediately.

I thought you are ipob member, why do you need state police

While they kill and kidnap in SE bandits serve it hot to their mothers and sisters by raping the hell out of them and putting bullets in their father's skull. The Fulani that sent you to attack people protecting their fathers land against invaders are the same Fulani wiping out your whole village in the north. You will wake up to go to your village one day and see that your village is gone

okeyglm:
I thought you are ipob member, why do you need state police

what I see sitting down, u and your father cannot see it while standing up. Cow like u

EmmaJnr1:
That's why state police needs to be set up immediately. Governors needs to be in charge of securing the state 100%. Who born soldier or Fulani herdsmen to kill people in any state when they know they will be arrested and dealt with. The soldiers are doing all these because they know they are doing what the federal terrorist government asked them to do.

If Nigerian leaders wants to really tackle security issues of Fulani herdsmen and police/soldier brutality, then the governors must make sure that they control security in their States 100% so that any police or soldier who wants to take any action in the state must do that only through the authorities of the state security body under the governor and not the federal government.

State police is the solution to all these wreckless killings and herdsmen menace.

Governors that can’t pay teachers should take over the responsibility of the Police? Or you think Uzodinma would have been Governor if the police apparatus was in the hands of Okorocha? Or Fayose would have handed over to Fayemi if he controlled the police?

Or it is then, you will run to the Federal Government for intervention? Some people no just get common sense.

EmmaJnr1:
what I see sitting down, u and your father cannot see it while standing up. Cow like u

What do you see, the sun rising in the west?

EmmaJnr1:
what I see sitting down, u and your father cannot see it while standing up. Cow like u

anupama won't you go and face the army in Nkanu. umu bingo

favor914:
Governors that can’t pay teachers should take over the responsibility of the Police? Or you think Uzodinma would have been Governor if the police apparatus was in the hands of Okorocha? Or Fayose would have handed over to Fayemi if he controlled the police?

Some people no just get common sense.

You have a shallow mind.

EmmaJnr1:
You have a shallow mind.

At least not as shallow as you & Nnamdi Kanu? Ipobians without Identities.

All of a sudden you seem interested in Nigerian issues, no more Biafran call? On another thread you are now demanding presidency not referendum anymore?

My sympathy to that Mumurist Director of Biafra Radio, his followers have started to abandon him surely & slowly.

Sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, he will plead for the forgiveness for his stupidity & beg us Nigerians for his freedom.

Igbos do get mad all at once.
Aba women's riot comes to mind.
One day, just the death of one Igbo soul will shake this country to it's foundation.

Keep tossing the tiger's tail, Nigerian harmy.

Herdsmen on uniform