- We’ll be fierce in our retaliation, says DHQ
- Gov Otti places N25m bounty on killers
Five soldiers were reportedly killed on Thursday when gunmen attacked soldiers in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, Nigeria’s South-east.
The hoodlums, numbering about 15, attacked the soldiers at about 8: 00 a.m. at a military checkpoint in Obikabia Junction in the commercial city.
The gunmen were said to be enforcing a sit-at-home order declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) across the South-East to mark the Biafra Day which is celebrated annually in the region.
A witness who identified himself simply as Marvelous said the hoodlums, who were masked, stormed the junction and opened fire on the soldiers.
Marvelous said four soldiers were killed during the attack while one other soldier was seriously injured.
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“Four of the soldiers were killed. The other soldier sustained serious gunshot injury. I am not sure he will survive it,” Marvelous said in Pidgin English language.
“The gunmen came in black Highlander (SUV). Even some ordinary people sustained gunshot injuries,” he added.
Some video clips showing the masked gunmen during the attack on the soldiers have been circulating on Facebook and other social media platforms.
In one of the clips, some armed men, dressed in black attire, were seen firing sporadic gunshots around the junction.
A military patrol truck was parked in the area. From the clip, over 10 gunmen took part in the attack.
Some fear-stricken residents were seen in another clip scampering for safety around the area. The clip showed the gunmen razing the military patrol truck apparently used by the soldiers.
Shortly after the attack, an armed soldier was seen apparently surveying the area to ascertain if the hoodlums had left.
“This army man is the only surviving person here. He was the only person that ran away,” a male voice was heard speaking in the background in the video.
Some youths were seen in another clip carrying a young man who was apparently hit by stray bullets.
The injured man’s clothes had blood stains.
“Does anybody here have a motorcycle?” one of the youths enquired from his colleagues.
The youths would later carry the victim to an undisclosed medical facility.
The spokesperson of the 14 Brigade of the Nigeria army in Ohafia, Abia State, Innocent Omale, a lieutenant, did not respond to calls and a text message seeking his comments.
When contacted on Thursday afternoon, Jonah Unuakhalu, the spokesperson of the 82 Division of the army, refused to confirm the attack but promised to revert to this reporter with details.
Mr Unuakhalu, a lieutenant colonel, did not respond to subsequent calls seeking his comments, nearly an hour later.
IPOB earlier this month announced that there would be a sit-at-home on 30 May across the South-east to mark the Biafra Day.
Emma Powerful, the IPOB’s spokesperson, in a statement, said the celebration was intended to remember IPOB members who died in “the fight for freedom”.
IPOB is a group seeking to carve out a sovereign state of Biafra from South-east and some parts of the south-south of Nigeria.
However, in a contradictory statement, Simon Ekpa, a pro-Biafra agitator, announced that the sit-at-home would last for three days from 29 to 31 May 2024.
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Mr Ekpa, who leads Auto Pilot, a faction of IPOB, said the three-day sit-at-home was necessary to enable “Biafrans to vote for the Liberation of Biafra.”
The agitator, who is based in Finland, asked Igbos and “lovers of South-east” to stay at home on the mentioned days in honour of “Biafran heroes” who died during the Nigerian civil war.
He asked the West African Examination Council to reschedule its Senior School Certificate Examination billed to hold within the time in the South-east.
Soldiers’ killing: We’ll be fierce in our retaliation, says DHQ
The Defence Headquarters says it will be fierce in its response to the killings of soldiers by the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) terrorists in Abia state.
It said it would bring “overwhelming military pressure on the group to ensure their total defeat.”
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen. Edward Buba said this in a statement on Friday, May 31.
Five soldiers were killed by IPOB fighters at a checkpoint in Obingwa local government areas on Thursday, May 30.
It was said that the IPOB terrorist, in three tinted Prado Toyota SUVs and others from built-up areas surrounding the checkpoint, sprang a surprise attack on the soldiers.
Gen. Buba said while the military mourned the death of the troops as each soldier lost in battle, investigations are ongoing concerning the Abia attack.
He said: “Overall, it must be reiterated that the lifeline of the terrorist is the people and this situation is no exemption. Winning the war without the support of the people is close to impossible. The IPOB capitalized on this to perpetrate attacks on the troops. The situation leaves more to be desired.
“Accordingly, it is absolutely imperative that the military retaliate against this dastardly act against troops.
“The military would be fierce in its response. We would bring overwhelming military pressure on the group to ensure their total defeat.”
Gov Otti places N25m bounty on killers
The Abia state government has placed a N25 million bounty on the killers of the five soldiers at Obikabia junction, Ogbor Hill, Aba.
Unknown gunmen had, on Thursday, attacked a military checkpoint and killed five soldiers.
The gunmen who allegedly seized their rifles and escaped also burnt two patrol vans and the checkpoint.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, the State government condemned the attack and commiserated with the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, and the Military High Command in the country for the unfortunate incident and pray for the peaceful repose of the soul of the gallant soldiers who died while in active duty.
The statement read: “As a government committed to security, safety and peace within its territory at all times, the Abia State Government considers the event of Thursday, May 30, 2024 a serious affront to its resolve by criminal elements who are hell-bent on returning Abia to the dark days of insecurity and fear amongst citizens, especially in Aba, the economic heartbeat of the State. This is more regrettable in the light of the fact that unprecedented investments have been made in the last one year to restore the city’s public infrastructure and reposition it as an attractive investment destination for local and foreign businesses.
“The government will therefore respond appropriately to reassure citizens, investors and friends of Abia across the world that it would be relentless in bringing the full wrath of the law to bear on anyone or group who constitutes the slightest threat to the peace and security of the land, whatever be their motivation.
“To underscore its resolve, the State Government is offering a N25 million (Twenty-five Million Naira) reward to anyone with useful information that could lead to the location and arrest of any of the criminals connected to the unfortunate killings, and the subsequent state of apprehension across the city of Aba and environs.
“The security formations in the State have been directed to treat informants with all the confidentiality required to guarantee their full cooperation and assistance until the criminals are fully apprehended and brought to book.
“The government appreciates the officers and men of the Nigerian Army in the State for maintaining high sense of professionalism in their response to the distressing event. The State will also encourage our military and security personnel to continue to show restraint, whether at the checkpoints, on patrol, or while engaged in other security duties, even as the government continues to work with all relevant stakeholders, including the security high commands, traditional and community leaders to gather and process all intelligence information which will ultimately lead to the capture of the perpetrators of the heinous crime at Obikabia Junction, and anyone directly or remotely connected to it in any form.
“The Government wishes to use this medium to encourage citizens to go about their legitimate duties without fear as necessary measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of residents, and businesses in all parts of Abia. Individuals with useful information on the activities and movement of criminals in their neighbourhood are also advised to share such information with the security agencies as quickly as possible for necessary action.”
“Any attempt to test the will of the government, as happened on Thursday, May 30, 2024, shall be resisted with every resource at the disposal of the State. Abia shall remain very hospitable and accommodating to all law-abiding citizens and those who engage only in legitimate businesses as defined by the laws of the federal republic of Nigeria while it shall continue to be a very hostile space for anyone whose actions or inactions, are capable of disrupting the peace and security of our communities.”
