A military couple, Master Warrant Officer Audu Linus (retired) and Private Gloria Matthew, have been by grusomei murdered by gunmen suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in Imo State.
The news of their death first surfaced on the social media with a post of gory pictures and a viral video, showing how the couple about to get wedded, were gruesomely murdered.
A military source said the woman, was raped in front her fiance before she and the man were shot dead and later beheaded.
The couple
The source, who preferred not to be named, said the victims were coming to Imo state to formalise their traditional marriage rites when they were attacked and killed.
According to the source said: “They were on their way to Imo State on Saturday when the incident happened.
“The man and the woman were on transit when they met the criminals who killed them and made videos and circulated online. The woman was raped before they shot at them and cut off their heads.
“The man was a member of the 19 regular intakes while the wife was of the 79RI. The man still has a father; his brother is also a soldier working at a battalion in Kaduna State.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has condemned the brutal murder of the couple, accusing IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) of being responsible for the incident.
Describing their killing as gruesome, barbaric and most despicable, the Nigerian Army, confirmed that the victims were on transit to Imo State for their traditional wedding.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General, Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement entitled ‘Gruesome Murder Of Two Soldiers By IPOB/ESN, Callous And Despicable,’ vowed that the assailants would be punished, saying the act was terrorism taken too far.
According to the statement: “Ironically, the fact that one of the soldiers, Private Gloria Matthew who hails from Nkwerre LGA of Imo state, has an ethnic affiliation with the good people of South-East Nigeria did not prevail on the sensibility of the dissidents.
“This dastardly act, one too many, clearly portends the deep-seated hate, desperation and lawlessness with which foot soldiers of IPOB/ESN have been unleashing terror on Ndigbo, whom they claim they are on a mission to protect and emancipate, as well as other innocent Nigerians who are resident or transiting the South East.
“This gruesome murder, in which they did not spare even their own child, clearly depicts callousness, impenitence and is indisputable, a brazen act of terrorism perpetrated by IPOB/ESN.
“Though the dissident groups have continued to live in denial while masquerading as unknown gunmen in their criminal violent campaign in the region, the NA will ensure the perpetrators of this dastardly act unleashed on its personnel do not go unpunished.
“While we deeply condole with the families, relations and close associates of the victims, the NA has commenced investigation to unmask and bring the criminals to book.”
