ABA-Soldiers of the
Forward Operation Base, FOB, stationed at Ngwa road, Aba, Abia State, has
assaulted the Aba sales representatives of Thisday, Punch and Authority
Newspapers and arrested two newspaper vendors including a 64 year old woman,
Jacima, over alleged sale of pro Biafra newspapers.
Trouble started for the
victims when the soldiers in two hilux vans stormed a newspaper distribution
centre at St. Michael’s road, Aba, in a commando-style and ordered vendors
including those who came to buy newspapers and magazines to sit on the floor
and identify themselves.
Vanguard gathered that when the Thisday sales rep, Mr. Simeon Obi identified himself, the soldiers demanded for his official identity card but his explanation that the card was in his office upstairs infuriated the soldiers who bundled him into one of the waiting hilux vans.
Vanguard gathered that when the Thisday sales rep, Mr. Simeon Obi identified himself, the soldiers demanded for his official identity card but his explanation that the card was in his office upstairs infuriated the soldiers who bundled him into one of the waiting hilux vans.
Also it was reported that
soldiers allegedly assaulted the sales rep of the Authority newspapers, Mrs.
Chinyere Ibe who was giving newspapers to vendors when the soldiers arrived and
asked her to identify herself.
An eyewitness said, “Immediately the woman said
“I’m with the Authority Newspapers”, one of the soldiers gave her severe slaps
and said, “You say you be authority, who gave you that authority, who made you
the authority of this town? If I hear you be authority again, I will deal with
you.”
The Punch, Thisday and Authority sales reps including the two vendors
were later taken to the army base at Ngwa High school. The Army Captain in
charge of the base was reported to have released the newspaper sales reps. As
at the time of filing this report, the two vendors including the 64 year old
woman, Jacima who was said to have been discharged from the hospital a day
before her arrest, are still being held by the Army.
When contacted, Commanding
Officer, 144 Battalion, Asa, Abia State, Lt. Col. Ksssim Umar Sidi, who denied
that the suspects were assaulted added that they have been handed over to the
Department of State Services, DSS.
BY UGOCHUKWU ALARIBE & ERIC UGBOR
