Tragedy struck Abia State on Thursday as masked gunmen attacked and killed five soldiers in Obikabia Junction in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State.
It is reported that the gunmen also burnt the soldiers’ patrol truck and were said to be enforcing the 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.
The Imo state governor Hope Uzodinma, who is also the chairperson of the South-east Governors’ Forum, condemned the act and described the attack and killing as “unfortunate.”
He said, “On behalf of my brother governors in the South East Governor’s Forum, I condem that incident and loss of the lives of soldiers who were on their duty posts”.
” Without any provocation, they were attacked by the men of the underworld. I want to condem that and also to urge security agents to go out and ensure that those behind that are caught and brought to book”.
“It is unfortunate that this happened without any reason, innocent people who were doing their lawful duty were burned down.”
He also stated that this incident is going to act as a major setback to the peace process which the governors from the South East have been pursuing in talking to the federal government, security agencies and other critical stakeholders on how best to resolve the problem of insecurity in the South East.
Governor Uzodinma also urged the security agencies to go all out to ensure that those behind the act are caught and prosecuted.