Abia says injured soldier arrested after visiting Otti

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The Abia State Government says its attention has been drawn to the arrest of a personnel of the Nigerian Army, Staff Sergeant Amoke Simon, who was received and promised medical support by Governor Alex Otti a few days ago.

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A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor (Media and Publicity), Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, on Wednesday, stated that information from military authorities revealed that Amoke was arrested in connection with an alleged fraud perpetrated some time ago.

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He added that the state government has established that the said personnel once served in Abia and that he sustained an injury while serving after leaving the state, for which an NGO brought him to the governor for medical assistance.

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Ekeoma also revealed that Otti’s promise of support to the Army personnel was purely on compassionate grounds, in line with the administration’s altruistic disposition, which has seen the government extend similar support to several citizens, including security agents who suffered one misfortune or another while discharging their duties.

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The statement read, “For example, just recently, the government extended financial support to the family of a naval personnel who lost her life in an auto crash around the Osisioma Flyover, Aba.

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“Also, financial support was recently extended to the family of an immigration officer who was allegedly stabbed to death by his wife in Umuahia.

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“Just a few days ago, eight personnel of the Nigerian Army who were involved in an auto crash were discharged from the hospital following the completion of their treatment, which included delicate surgeries sponsored by the state government.

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“All these cases and many others too numerous to list here were thoroughly investigated before financial support was extended to the affected persons, because the government is not Father Christmas.”

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The governor’s spokesman maintained that the state government had requested that due diligence be conducted on Sergeant Amoke, which may have also triggered the action of the military that culminated in his arrest shortly after his visit.

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“Since it is outside the scope of the state government to investigate cases of corruption, the government is in full support of every legitimate action being taken by the Nigerian Army to discipline these erring personnel and ensure that justice is served to the fullest.

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“The government shall continue to offer financial, medical and other humanitarian support to victims of all kinds of misfortune, where and when necessary, notwithstanding the controversies surrounding Sergeant Amoke’s case,” Ekeoma stated.

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