Army: Concerted effort still on to rescue female officer abducted in Imo

The Nigerian Army says concerted effort is still ongoing to rescue the newly-commissioned female officer, Lt. PP Johnson, abducted in Imo allegedly by the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, stated on Friday in Abuja that the female officer was abducted on Dec. 26 while visiting her grandmother in Aku-Okigwe in Imo.

That was shortly after the completion of her cadet training and subsequent commissioning as a lieutenant into the Nigerian Army, he added.

Nwachukwu stated that the video footage of her abduction had emerged in social media where her abductors claimed her abduction was in line with their fight for Biafra against the Nigerian state.

The officer’s circumstance as a woman and a Nigerian citizen of South-eastern extraction did not dissuade her abductors from dehumanising her in their mindless attempt to commit atrocities under the guise of fighting for Biafra, he added.

“This evidently is another pointer to the myriad of crimes being unleashed by IPOB/ESN on Ndigbo, the very people they claim to be fighting for their emancipation.

“It should therefore be crystal clear to those who are still in doubt of the true status of these groups, that IPOB and ESN are terrorists.

“They are masquerading as freedom fighters and do not deserve the support of anyone particularly the good people of Southeast Nigeria.

“The Nigerian Army states that the information making the rounds that Lt. Johnson had been released or rescued from her abductors is unsubstantiated as the officer is yet to be released or rescued,’’ he stated.

Nwachukwu stressed that the video footage being circulated and associated with the rescue claim was an old video of the arrest of a suspect 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 Nigerian Army.

“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,’’ Nwachukwu stated.

Below is the full text of the release:

ABDUCTED FEMALE OFFICER NOT YET RESCUED, SEARCH EFFORT STILL ONGOING

The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to some publications circulating in the social media insinuating the rescue of Lieutenant PP Johnson, a female officer who was abducted on Monday 26 December 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. A video footage of her abduction had emerged in the social media where her abductors claimed her abduction was in line with their fight for Biafra against the Nigerian State. It is instructive that the officer’s circumstance as a woman and a Nigerian citizen of South Eastern extraction did not dissuade her abductors from dehumanizing her in their mindless attempt to commit atrocities under the guise of fighting for Biafra. This evidently 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. 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.

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 effected 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.

ONYEMA NWACHUKWU

Brigadier General

Director Army Public Relations

30 December 2022