The Nigerian Army (NA) has categorically denied allegations of mass killings in the Southeast region, labeling the claims as “despicably false.” The accusations were made by Simon Ekpa, a self-proclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
According to Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, Ekpa’s claims, which spread through a viral video, suggested that NA troops were involved in the mass killing of innocent Igbos at Oliver and dumping the bodies in a river. Nwachukwu described these reports as “unimaginable and not well couched falsehoods” aimed at inciting negative sentiments and anarchy in the region.
The NA has conducted a thorough investigation into the allegations. Contrary to Ekpa’s claims, the troops shown in the video are identified as personnel of the Nigerian Navy, not the Army. These Navy personnel were engaged in a routine test firing of a weapon system mounted on a vehicle. For safety reasons, they temporarily halted vehicular movement along the road during the test, ensuring the safety of other road users and observers.
Furthermore, preliminary findings indicate that the event took place in the Southwest region, not the Southeast as claimed. There is no evidence to support the assertion that individuals were being shot at or that bodies were found in the river. Local communities have not reported any discoveries of corpses in the area.