Yet-to-be identified gunmen have reportedly assassinated an army officer whose name was given as Major Churchill Orji at the Azia area in Ihiala local government area of Anambra State.
According to Vanguard, Orji hails from Nneogidi village, Agulu, in the Anaocha local government area of the state.
Orji’s secondary schoolmate, Leonard Edu, while lamenting the death of the Army officer, said he was his senior at Agulu Boys Secondary School.
“He was our labour prefect then. It is true that he was killed by unknown gunmen at Azia, although we are yet to have the details of what led to his death,” Edu said.
In a tribute on social media, one of Orji’s friends said: “Rest in peace my brother from Nneogidi village, Agulu, Major Churchil Orji killed yesterday( Sunday) at Azia/Ukpor while defending the South-East from the marauders.”
Another also wrote: “Father(God), we are at your mercy in Anambra State. May the soul of Major C Orji rest in peace.”
It remains unclear what took the late army officer to Azia, which is considered one of the most dangerous parts of the state as the area has become a den of the dreaded gunmen.
Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Tochukwu Ikenga, could not confirm the incident, as he said he had not yet received the report.
The Nigerian Military has recorded more wins against insurgents and terrorists in the country by taking the battle to them in their hideouts.
Information made available to Naija News on the developments says fighter jets of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) over the weekend bombed the hideout of the current Leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Fiya Ba Yuram at Sambisa forest.
Ba Yuram is the leader of the ISWAP terrorists who took over the group following the killing of Boko Haram Leader Abubakar Shekau last year.
It was gathered that the military got hold of credible intelligence information about the gathering of some terrorists at his den in Sambisa Forest for a particular mission.
Based on this, fighter jets were mobilized and dispatched to the location from the Air Component of Operation of Hadin Kai.
A military source quoted by PR Nigeria says the airstrikes were successful, and many of the terrorists were killed. It could, however, not be confirmed if the ISWAP leader was also killed in the air strike.
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