The Nigerian Army has dismissed claims circulating online that two soldiers were killed and a patrol vehicle destroyed during unrest in Oso Edda community, Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The rumours emerged amid tensions in the area following reports that attackers from the Amasiri axis allegedly stormed Okporojo village, killing several residents and mutilating some of the victims.
Speaking with journalists in Abakaliki on Wednesday, the Cantonment Commander of Nkwagu Military Barracks, Lt. Col. Emmanuel Chielo, described the reports about casualties among soldiers as untrue.
According to him, troops involved in the mission were not harmed, stressing that the operation was being carried out jointly with other security agencies, including the police, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
He explained that shortly after deployment, armed elements attempted to confront the security team, believing the number of personnel on the ground was small. However, he said the troops responded professionally and exercised restraint due to the densely populated nature of the community.
Chielo noted that firing indiscriminately could have endangered innocent residents, adding that no soldier lost his life during the encounter.
The commander also assured families of the victims that efforts were ongoing to recover the severed heads of those killed during the attack on the village. He described the killings as disturbing and inhumane, lamenting that such violence was being carried out among people who share the same roots.
He pointed out that many security challenges in communities often stem from deeper issues such as disputes over land ownership, traditional leadership tussles and other longstanding grievances.
Despite the recent crisis, Chielo maintained that Ebonyi remains one of the more peaceful states in the South-East and credited sustained collaboration among security agencies for maintaining stability.
He further backed the actions taken by the State Security Council and the state government, saying the measures were necessary to prevent retaliatory violence and restore calm to the affected areas.
The commander also raised concerns about the increasing circulation of small arms, warning that many states were becoming transit routes for illegal weapons. He urged residents to support security agencies with credible information, stressing that maintaining safety should not be left to the government alone.
