On Friday, June 1, 2024, a Nigerian medical doctor, Rose Agwu, took to social media to call the attention of netizens to the arrest of her siblings.
Agwu, in a series of now-deleted tweets, said military men invaded her home in Obikabia, Abia state, and picked up her brother and sister, leaving their 72-year-old father behind. The teenagers were among civilians arrested around Obikabia junction in Aba over the killing of military officers.
“Around 5 a.m., the Nigerian Army invaded my house, broke the gate and our door, and took my 15-year-old brother and my sister, who had just come home, away, leaving only my aged father.”
The medical doctor added that the soldiers didn’t give reasons for the arrest and never revealed the whereabouts of the arrested individuals.
“Till now, they have not been released. We are still trying to locate them. Please help us ask the Nigerian Army the logical reason behind this and how they can account for all the people they took and their plans for them,” she wrote in a post.
The arrest happened shortly after masked gunmen killed five soldiers at an army checkpoint in the Aba area of the state on Thursday, May 30. The military vowed to track down the individuals responsible, making the arrest of Agwu’s siblings look like a reprisal attack.
What was the public response?
Agwu’s cry for help caught the attention of netizens who helped her amplify her message in a bid to get the attention of relevant authorities.
In an X post made more than 24 hours after Agwu’s call, PPRO of the Abia state police command, DSP Maureen Chinaka, noted that the right authorities had been notified, adding that Agwu should take the matter further by contacting the military PRO.
Reunited with family
Around 9:24 p.m. on Saturday, the medical doctor returned to X to announce that she’d been reunited with her arrested siblings. She also thanked everyone who stepped in to help escalate the matter and ensure their release.
“I want to say a very big thank you to every well-meaning Nigerian who tweeted and shed light on the arrest of innocent civilians living around Obikabia Junction Aba, Abia State, which included my 15-year-old brother and my younger sister.”
Agwu, however, complained about how her brother was treated while in he was in custody.
“No child should experience what my teen innocent brother experienced these past hours. He was slapped, beaten and is still scared. His mental health will definitely need care for him to recover from this.”
According to Agwu, some other civilians in the area were also released.
What’s the governor doing to address the tension?
Governor Alex Otti paid a condolence visit to families of the slain soldiers on Saturday, June 1. During the visit, the governor announced a ₦25m bounty on the heads of the individuals responsible for the attack.
The governor also said he’s informed Brigadier General Olusola Diya, Commander of 14 Brigade, Ohafia, to keep the peace in Aba as he’s confident that innocent Abians were not part of the “evil act”.
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