There was palpable fear in Abia State on Friday following the declaration by the Nigerian military that the killers of five soldiers in the state would not go scot-free. The five slain soldiers were killed at an Army checkpoint in the Aba area of the state on Thursday in a manner many have described as wicked and unacceptable.
In a press release issued by the Army Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, the military authorities vowed that the killers would be apprehended and punished. The military stated that the slain soldiers, deployed to enforce peace in the state, met their deaths when terrorists, who came in three Prado Toyota SUVs, attacked them at the checkpoint.
“Troops of OP UDO KA deployed at Obikabia Junction Checkpoint in Obingwa Local Government Areas adjoining Aba metropolis in Abia State were attacked and sadly killed by terrorists of IPOB/ESN,” the statement read. “The troops deployed to enforce peace in the area and protect the citizens were mass-attacked by the terrorists.”
The military emphasized that while investigations have commenced on the attack, they would retaliate against the perpetrators by launching overwhelming military pressure to ensure their total defeat. “The lifeline of the terrorists is the people, and this situation is no exception. Winning the war without the support of the people is close to impossible,” the statement added.
The decision of the Nigerian military has caused deep panic in the state, with key stakeholders condemning the attack. Dr. Orji Kalu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatization and former Governor of the state, called on security agencies to identify and punish the perpetrators. “The killing of soldiers at a checkpoint in Aba is barbaric. The perpetrators must be identified for appropriate actions,” Kalu said, urging residents to remain calm and law-abiding.
Former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, also condemned the attack, describing it as “disheartening and barbaric.” He called on security authorities to immediately apprehend the killers and ensure they face the full weight of the law. “There is no justification whatsoever for anybody or group of persons to harm any security officer, not to talk of killing any in whatever guise,” Abaribe stated.
Similarly, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, condemned the attack, describing it as “barbaric, reprehensible, and generally untoward.” He assured that the administration of Dr. Alex Otti would intensify efforts to fish out the perpetrators and that the state would not harbor criminals and evil-minded persons or groups.
A member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia at the National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Obi Aguocha, described the incident as “regrettable and unnecessary,” noting that it further delays peace efforts and the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The state government has placed a N25m bounty on the perpetrators. The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, stated, “The state government is offering an N25m reward to anyone with useful information that could lead to the location and arrest of any of the criminals connected to the unfortunate killings.”
The Abia State Commissioner of Police, CP Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, assured that the law would take its course against the perpetrators. “The security agencies, the government of Abia State, and all well-meaning Nigerians feel very bad about what happened, and everything that needs to be done will be done to ensure that it doesn’t happen again,” Onwuemelie said.
