Nigerian Army tells residents of southeast not to panic over troop movements and the sound of gunshots

NIGERIAN military commanders have urged residents of the southeast geo-political zone not to panic over the presence of the army in their region and the sound of gunshots as it is just part  of a regular training exercise.

Over recent weeks, the Nigerian Army has been moving troops across the southeast and conducting shooting exercises on ranges as part of its annual Range Classification for 2019. Col Aliyu Yusuf, the spokesman of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army based in Enugu, urged local residents not to be scared if they hear gunshots.

He added that the movement of troops to and from the area as well as the sound of gunshots would be expected during the period of the exercise. According to Col Yusuf, the general public is advised to go about their daily activities without panic as this is a normal military routine exercise.

Col Yusuf said: “The 82 Division, Nigerian Army, will be conducting the 2019 Range Classification Exercise in line with the Nigerian Army 2019 training scheduled from Tuesday, April 23 to Saturday, April 27 at 34 Brigade Shooting Range, Owerri, in Imo State. The exercise, which is an annual routine training activity, aims at testing personnel effectiveness in weapon handling and firing efficiency, thereby providing the required platform for better professional competence."

In 2017, the Nigerian Army launched Operation Python Dance in southeast Nigeria but the local population claimed was an attempt to intimidate people. Secessionist groups like the Indigenous people of Biafra (Ipob) said the operation was introduce to harass and intimidate their members who are clamouring for an Igbo homeland.

Since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in 2015, southeast Nigeria has been the scene of a series of large demonstrations as local people agitate for secession from Nigeria. Due to the perceived marginalisation of the Buhari administration, secessionist groups like Ipob have managed to attract a lot of local support for their quest to recreate the defunct Republic of Biafra.