Residents of Ihube in the Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State have deserted their community following continuous clashes between gunmen and security agents.

Our correspondent gathered that both the DSS and the army have been combing the forests of Ihube in search of a female army officer, who was kidnapped and stripped naked.

The officer, a lieutenant, identified as Phoebe Johnson, was seen in a viral video where she was being dehumanized by her abductors.

Lt. Johnson was said to have recently passed out from the defence academy and was on the way to visit her grandmother before she was kidnapped by the gunmen.

Earlier reports had it that she had been released, but the army authorities denied it, saying that she is yet to be set free.

A resident of the area, who fled from the clashes, told our correspondent that since the abduction of the female army officer, the residents have not been at peace.

The resident, also Identified as Phoebe said, “As I am talking to you now, everybody is on the run. You can not see a single person in Ihube.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Mike Abattam, is yet to respond to inquiries as of the time of filing this report. (Daily Trust: Text, Excluding Headline)