Nigerian Army Hunt For Female Officer’s Abductors

• Say search and rescue efforts still ongoing

BY EDMOND ODOK – The Nigerian Army (NA) says contrary to some publications circulating on social media, search efforts are still ongoing to rescue a female officer, Lieutenant PP Johnson, who was abducted on Monday, 26th December 2022.

According to the Army, the officer was visiting her grandmother in Aku-Okigwe in Imo State, shortly after successfully completing her Cadet training and subsequent commissioning as a Lieutenant into the Nigerian Army.

A statement issued by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the Army would leave no stone unturned in its commitment to rescue the officer and ensure the perpetrators of the crime are brought to book

The statement stated thus; “A Video footage of her abduction had emerged on 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 circumstances 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.”

Furthermore, the statement said; “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.”

In urging 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 no stone would be left unturned in rescuing the officer and ensuring the perpetrators are brought to book.