IPOB, MASSOB killings: Army acted in self defence – COAS.
The Chief of Army Staff ,Lt. Gen.Tukur Yusuf Burutai, on Monday dismissed reports that soldiers attacked and killed unarmed protesting members of IPOB and MASSOB at Onitsha, Anambra State recently saying that the military opened fire on thé separatist groups on self defence.
Lt. Burutai made the clarification while fielding questions from newsmen after à courtesy visit to Governor Rochas Okorocha at the Government House Owerri.
The Chief of Army Staff who saïd that they were in the state for this year’s Chief of Army Staff annual Conference alleged that the protesters shot soldiers and other security agencies including DSS personnel and Police .
He said:”it is only during stringent situations that army could apply use of arms as their last resort.”
He saïd that the available evidence had shown that the IPOB and MASSOB members were secretly armed which they used to attack security agencies.
He therefore accused some non governmemtal organisations (NGOs) of trying to distablise the country through falsehood reports.
He stated that they were in Owerri to x-ray the activities of the military in the past one year and strategise for future for better management of the force.
According to him,thé military would conduct free medicial services in three communities in the state.
