One of the Soldiers
Chief Tochukwu Mmodu, a former President General of Umuoji Community in Idemili North Local Government of Anambra State has raised alarm over alleged threat to life by yet to be identified soldiers and operatives of the DSS.
Mmodu called on the Chief of Army Staff and Director of DSS to identify and investigate the matter with the aim of bringing the perpetrators to book.
According to him, armed men in military and DSS uniforms invaded his home and molested him and members of his family over a land dispute between him and Mr Nwachukwu Ochuebe, also known as “Mayor” who based in Russia.
Mmodu told newsmen that the armed officers accompanied by the said ‘Mayor’ stormed his compound on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 shooting sporadically into the air.
According to him, the sporadic shooting caused panic in the neighbourhood with residents taking cover, thinking it armed robbers that invaded the community.
Mmodu explained, “Mayor actually bought a land close to my house; but in the process of fencing it, he started encroaching into my own land, which is different from the one they sold to him, and I cautioned him, but he insisted to continue the encroachment.
“The next thing is that he got soldiers and DSS people; they invaded my house shooting, beating and assaulting me, my wife and my son. They even collected his phone.
“As they were shooting, the village vigilante came, because, they thought the men were armed robbers, but the Soldiers and DSS chased the vigilante away.
“They even flogged me and threatened to shoot me if I ever stepped into the land again. They boasted that there is nothing I can do about it.
“Honestly, I don’t know when Army and DSS have started getting involved in land matters between residents in a community.
“As a community, we have our internal mechanism of settling land disputes, because, we are all born here and we have our leaders here too,” he said
Mmodu said he decided to speak out about the attack considering the current security challenges facing communities in the state.
He therefore called on the military and DSS authorities to investigate the incidence to ascertain if the men were security officers or not; and also question why they would allowed themselves to be used to commit assault against unarmed civilians.
He further narrated: “I initially assumed they were armed robbers, because of their brutal approach of shooting into the air, and they refused to tell me which Army Division they came from.
“They did not tell me where they came from and I was not invited to any place, but they just came to terrorize me and my family.
“I want the authorities to investigate. I was able to capture them with our phone, I have their photographs, they are about five in number, but I got the photograph of two of them.
“I went to the police station and reported the matter. But I will like the Nigerian Army and DSS to also investigate the matter,” Mmodu pleaded.