A Nigerian medical doctor, Rose Agwu, has issued a distress call after soldiers invaded her home near Obikabia Junction in the Aba area of Abia State, arresting her 15-year-old brother and sister. The incident occurred at approximately 5 am on Friday, leaving Agwu’s 72-year-old father behind.
Dr. Agwu took to her X handle on Friday morning to detail the incident, stating that the soldiers provided no information on the whereabouts or reasons for the arrest of her siblings.
“Around 5 am, the Nigerian Army invaded my house, broke the gate and door, and took my 15-year-old brother and my sister, leaving only my aged father. They haven’t been released, and we are trying to locate them,” she wrote. “Please ask the Nigerian Army the reason behind this and how they plan to account for those they took. I don’t want excuses; this is how people go missing and get killed. Please release my siblings—they know nothing about the shooting or unknown gunmen.”
This incident followed the killing of five soldiers at an Army checkpoint in the Aba area on Thursday. The Nigerian military has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
As of Friday, Dr. Agwu lamented that her siblings were still in custody, emphasizing that June 1 marked her sister’s birthday, making the detention particularly distressing. She stressed that their detention violated their rights and called for their immediate release.
“At 5 am yesterday, while I was at the hospital working, the Nigerian Army broke into my home, forced my 72-year-old father into an unhealthy position, and took my 15-year-old brother and sister. They haven’t returned. My family is terrified. No arrest warrant was shown, and no reason given. This is not justice! My siblings are experiencing severe trauma. Today, June 1, is my sister’s birthday, and she’s in Army custody for a crime she didn’t commit. We are law-abiding citizens. Governor Alex Otti, please help us,” she pleaded.
Other residents near Obikabia Junction have reported similar incidents, with soldiers allegedly raiding homes and arresting young people. A Twitter user, CleverNation (#clevernation23), claimed that his friend was taken from a hotel room by soldiers. This wave of arrests has sparked public outrage, with many Nigerians condemning the invasion and the arrest of innocent residents.
