Abia govt reacts to arrest of soldier who claimed to have

From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

The Abia State Government has reacted to the arrest of Staff Sergeant Amoke Simon, who visited Governor Alex Otti in his office last week and falsely claimed he was the one who led the operation that eliminated kidnap kingpin, Obioma Nwankwo, aka Osisikankwu in 2010.

Following his claims, Governor Otti, while receiving Sgt. Amoke in his office, promised the soldier assistance, including a medical treatment abroad that would be offset by the state government.

Nevertheless, a few days after his visit to Otti, Amoke was arrested by military authorities in Port Harcourt as he attempted to travel back to Lagos. He was reportedly arrested by joint troops of the 14 Brigade and 6 Division Provost groups, following allegations of fabrication of a military operational history to gain sympathy, financial support, and recognition.

However, reacting to the arrest of the soldier in a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Abia State Governor, Ferdinand Ekeoma, Government opined that the said Amoke was brought to the governor by an NGO who solicited medical assistance for the soldier.

“Information from military authorities revealed that Sergeant Amoke was arrested in connection with alleged fraud perpetrated by him some time ago. While it is outside the scope of the state government to investigate cases of corruption, it’s also important to state that the government requested that due diligence be conducted on Sergeant Amoke, which may have also triggered the action of the military which culminated in his arrest shortly after his visit.

“While the government is in full support of every legitimate action being taken by the Nigerian Army to discipline this erring personnel, and ensure that justice is served to the fullest, the government shall continue to offer financial, medical and other humanitarian support to victims of all kinds of misfortune, where and when necessary, notwithstanding the controversies surrounding Sergeant Amoke’s case”, the statement added.

In the meantime, the real army officer who killed kidnap kingpin, Obioma Nwankwo, aka Osisikankwu in Abia State has been revealed. He is said to be Brigadier General Timothy Oprum, then a Major and in charge of the 144 Battalion Forward Operation Base (FOB) of the Nigerian Army, Aba, Abia State, but now serving in Kaduna. A serving Lt. Col., who spoke exclusively to Daily Sun, and who wouldn’t want his name in print, said it was Brig. Gen Oprum, then Major who killed Osisikankwu in 2010.

He said: “I was in Abia as a Lt., during that time and took part in the elimination of Osisikankwu. The truth remains that the military hierarchy in Abia then never wanted Osisikankwu to be arrested or eliminated; they were dancing to the tune of the powers that were in the state at that time. But Gen. Oprum, being a gallant soldier, didn’t want that politics of playing with people’s lives to continue. He gathered about four of us and set out for the operation.”

Narrating how the kidnap kingpin was killed, the officer said, “Osisikankwu’s second in command, Oyeime, had earlier been arrested, then we used him to lure out his boss at the evil forest at Ogwe, Ukwa West Local Government Area, where he was shot dead by Oprum.

“Simple logic should have informed him (Amoke) that as a Staff Sergeant now, he should have been a very junior soldier then to have led such an operation. Anybody in doubt should ask one of the lady reporters in NTA, Aba, then, she covered the operation for us”, the officer said.

Efforts to reach Brig. Gen. Oprum for the confirmation of this claim was not successful.