Rev Godwin Udofa is the President of Wonder Life Mental Rehabilitation Centre, Ikot Afanga, Oruk Anam Local government of Akwa Ibom State. Udofa, who has
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With the heavy aerial bombardment and heavy artillery shelling launched on Essien Udim local government area of Akwa Ibom State by the Nigeria Airforce, thousands in some communities have been left desolate after being displaced and rendered homeless.
In a bid to flush out suspected members of outlawed Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), as well as other miscreants who have terrorizing indigenes and security operatives, the Nigeria Airforce on Tuesday April 6th, launched a military operation that killed many of the miscreants but inadvertently turned indigenes of nine villages into refugees after rendering them homeless, thus swelling the rank of Internally Displaced Persons in the area.
Akwa Ibom faces ‘refugee’ crisis after military operation to ‘flush out miscreants’
The military operation was launched after some gunmen killed three police officers in the area. 3 min read
The military operation in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State to “flush out miscreants” has created a new challenge – a refugee crisis – in the state.
The operation was launched in Ntak Ikot Akpan community after some hoodlums attacked and killed three police officers in the local government area a few days ago.
Four officers are still missing after the attack, the police in Akwa Ibom said.
Several people were killed during ground operation and an aerial bombardment by troops.
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Patrick Odey and Chidiebube Okeoma
Published 4:00 am
Patrick Odey and Chidiebube Okeoma
Published 4:00 am
There was panic among residents of the Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on Tuesday as the military bombarded the Ikot Akpan forest in the area.
The PUNCH learnt that the military operation was aimed at flushing out hoodlums who had been attacking police formations in the state.
Residents, who share boundaries with hoodlums’ hideouts, told one of our correspondents that the bombing of the forest started at 8am and ended at 12 noon on Tuesday.
The military exercise came barely 24 hours after gunmen attacked the Imo State police command headquarters and the Nigerian Correctional Service in Owerri, the state capital, where 1,844 inmates were freed.