Nigerian soldiers have arrested over twenty persons in Akpoha community, Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State over a Biafran flag seen in the community.
Community sources told Standard Observers that the arrest occurred on Tuesday, the 10th of June.
The sources said the soldiers who were escorting a convoy, stopped upon sighting the flag in the community.
According to them, the soldiers demanded to be told who hung the flag in the community. However, when they were not provided with the name of the person who hung the flag, the soldiers moved from home to home, arresting every adult male on sight.
A community source, Uzor, said that 25 persons were arrested by the soldiers and they have not been released till date.
He said: “They came to the community and demanded to be told the person who planted the flag in the community. When they were not given any satisfactory information, they moved from house to house, arresting every male of age.
“A total of 25 persons were arrested and taken away by the soldiers, and up till date, no one has heard from them.
“The community members have approached the state government to look into the matter as rumours have enveloped the community over the possibility that they might have been killed,” he said.
The military is not empowered by law to detain civilians but when contacted to know if the arrested persons were handed over to the police, the public relations officers of the Ebonyi State police command, Loveth Odah said she was not aware of the development.
