By Suleiman Anyalewechi
“We will respond appropriately”, vows Governor Otti
The Abia State Government has taken over the responsibilities of the families of the five Soldiers kïlled in Aba on Thursday, May 30, 2024.
The Soldiers, three of whom were Abia sons, include Captain Lucky Ikpeama, an only son of his parents who survived the fight against Boko Haram terrorists in Maiduguri for eights, only to be killed by his own brothers when he was redeployed to his State, Abia.
The Defence Headquarters in a statement by its Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, said the Military will retaliate the killing of its five personnel in Aba with fierce, overwhelming, force.
The Soldiers were at their duty post in the Obikabia area junction, Aba, when hoodlums, masquerading as members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, swooped on them in their scores, killed them and set their operational vehicles on fire.
The hoodlums were enforcing the sit-at-home order imposed on the South-east region from 29th to 31st May by IPOB through an announcement by Emma Powerful, IPOB’s Spokesperson.
The order, IPOB said, is to mark the anniversary of the hundreds of thousands of the Igbo killed and/or starved to the death during Nigeria’s Civil War.
The Soldiers were at their duty post to maintain peace when they were overwhelmed and killed.
The incident happened at about 7.30am when the gunmen, who operated in many SUV vehicles, arrived and killed the soldiers.
In its reaction on Friday to the sad incident, the Abia State Government expressed its sadness and rgret over the killing of the Soldiers and placed a N25 million bounty on the perpetrators of the crime.
The Government also said it would take up the responsibility of supporting the families of the soldiers. The responsibilities include payment of regular stipends to their spouses, and the education of their children to University level.
The Government, in the statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, also, condoled with the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, and the Military High Command in the country and prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of the soldiers.
The statement reads in part:
“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.
“Furthermore, the Abia State Government will, in line with its commitment to the welfare of the security operatives working within its territory, take up the responsibility of supporting the families of the slain soldiers, including payment of regular stipends to their spouses, and the education of their children to university level. It is the least the State can do for the soldiers who died in brave service to their fatherland.
“The Government will also like to specially appreciate the officers and men of the Nigerian Army in the State for maintaining a high sense of professionalism in their response to the very 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.
“Traditional and community leaders in all parts of the State are by this communication advised to set up suitable local intelligence gathering mechanisms in their localities and share whatever new information they get with the security agencies regularly. The State Government shall not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law to bear on any traditional or community leader found to be harbouring criminal elements in their domains.
“Lastly, the Abia State Government will continue to give all necessary support to the security agencies in the State for the purpose of protecting lives and property. Very importantly, the earlier warning to criminal elements to consider all parts of Abia as a no-go area is still in force. 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.”
It would be recalled that the Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, had said on Thursday that his Government would not confront the promoters of sit-at-home order, and added that they were free to mourn the victims of the genocide perpetrated against their people as they wished.
Sadly, one of the ways some of them mourned was the unprovoked killing of the soldiers.
