Two soldiers were yesterday reportedly killed in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, as socio-economic activities got crippled in Nigeria’s South-East zone.
This followed the sit-at-home order given by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB) to mark the May 30th Heroes’ Day.
Some masked gunmen numbering about 15 reportedly attacked military victims stationed at the Obikabia junction in Ogbor Hill and set their patrol vans ablaze after a gun duel.
An eyewitness said the military men were outnumbered by the gunmen who launched the surprise attack.
The source, who simply identified himself as Obinna, said, “I don’t know how many of the army men died, but I have seen two bodies on the floor.”
He added, “The gunmen came in an SUV jeep and a Sienna and attacked the army men at the junction. They were all masked and outnumbered the military men, killing about two of them.
“As I speak to you now, gunshots are still renting the air, and we have all gone inside. The patrol vans of the military men have also been set ablaze by the hoodlums.”
A viral video seen on social media showed that no fewer than 15 masked gunmen arrived in a Sienna bus and a black SUV and attacked two military trucks shooting sporadically at the army officers.
“Jesus Christ! The soldiers have been shot dead. They want to set their truck ablaze,” an unidentified voice from the recorded clip stated.
The gunmen set the two military trucks ablaze, according to the sources, who also said that at least two soldiers died in the attack.
In Awka, the capital town of Anambra State, one person has also been shot dead while three others fled with bullet wounds, as the operatives of the State Police Command laid an ambush against some suspected miscreants allegedly re-grouping to enforce sit-at-home in the state.
The incident happened along the Oba Flyover in Oba, Idemili South local government area of the state, where the operatives intercepted the gang of four armed men operating on motorbikes.
Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Police Command, Ikenga Tochukwu, who confirmed the incident yesterday, said the operatives also recovered a locally-made Beretta pistol, four expanded cartridges, two phones, and some signals/initials showing unpatriotism and disloyalty to the Nigerian government.
Ikenga said that preliminary information showed that the armed men were regrouping to enforce illegal sit-at-home on 30th May, 2024; adding that the operatives were on the trail of the three others who escaped the scene.
“To this end, the Commissioner of Police charges the operatives to sustain the tempo of the onslaught against the criminal elements and continue to deny them the space they enjoy to commit havoc in the state,” he said.
*Commercial activities paralysed
Checks revealed that all the markets, banks, petrol stations, schools, shops, and business premises were completely shut, while roads and major streets were deserted.
Findings showed that the popular Eke Awka daily market, Ogbor Olu building materials market, commercial banks along Awka-Enugu-Onitsha expressway and Zik Avenue, shops and business centres, as well as fuel stations and schools were shut, while all the major roads and streets were deserted.
Residents stayed indoors over the fear of being attacked by suspected gunmen.
Motorists and tricycle operators deserted the routes, while few of the tricycle riders who bothered to ply the Zik Avenue and Aroma areas charged N200 as against N150 per drop.
Also, restaurant and bar parlour operators failed to open their shops.
All the shops and business centres along the ever-busy State Secretariat road close to the ever-busy popular Aroma area were under lock and key.
In the commercial town of Onitsha, all the markets, including the Main Market, and those of the Nnewi Auto Spare Parts market, were shut to customers.
The situation is not different in Imo, Enugu, and Ebonyi states as the movement was restricted and markets as well as shops closed down, following the sit-at-home order by IPoB.
*Students disguise themselves to write exams
Students, who are candidates of the ongoing West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams in Awka and its environs, yesterday disguised themselves, as the fear of enforcement of sit-at-home order persisted in Anambra State, amid the conduct of the mathematics examination.
The students were seen wearing plain clothes as they made their way into their various schools to sit for the mathematics exams, out of fear of attacks by gunmen.
The palpable fear in the state followed the declaration of Biafran Day by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), with a sit-at-home order, coinciding with the day students sitting for the May/June WAEC examination were taking the Mathematics subjects 1&2.
Though the Anambra State Police Command had waived the threat of mayhem for defaulters of the order by IPoB, residents of Awka were still in fear as shops at major markets, including Eke Awka, were seen under lock and key.
Most students, especially candidates sitting for the examination at Igwebuike Grammar School, Awka, and St John’s School, Amemyi, Awka, were seen as early as 7.45am wearing plain clothes, apparently to disguise as they entered their schools for the examination.
Some of them were seen carrying empty gallons, pretending to be seen as going to fetch water, only to make swift entry into the school.
Reports say some girls were also seen carrying buckets on their heads like they were going to fetch water, and they entered their schools where they changed into their school uniforms.
Gates of the Igwebuike Grammar School, it was gathered, was locked, with only one little entrance opened for students to enter.
*Uzodimma condemns killing of soldiers by hoodlums in Abia
Meanwhile, the Imo State Governor and Chairman of the South East Governors Forum, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has condemned in very strong terms the killing of soldiers who were on lawful duty in Aba, Abia State by hoodlums masquerading as members of the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPoB).
The soldiers were ambushed and then killed by the gang of criminals who claimed to be enforcing a sit-at-home order in the South East.
Uzodimma who addressed the media on Thursday in Government House Owerri had condemned the dastardly act which he said occurred without provocation.
The governor urged the security agencies to “go all out and ensure that those behind it are caught and brought to book.”
He bemoaned what happened as “unfortunate, without any reason as innocent people doing their lawful duty were gunned down.”
He said the unfortunate situation was a major setback on the peace process which the Governors of the South East have been pursuing vigorously by engaging the Federal government, security agencies, and other critical stakeholders on how best to resolve the problem of insecurity in the South-East.
Uzodimma regretted that the action would erroneously portray the people of South East in a bad light “as if we don’t have sympathy for human lives or that the peace process being pursued is not appreciated.”
The Governor seized the opportunity to condole with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Toured Lagbaja, the Nigeria Army, and the families of the soldiers who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate incident.
However, he reiterated the resolve of the leadership of the people of South East in general and the Governors in particular, not to leave any stone unturned to ensure that the needed peace to develop the region is achieved.
Uzodimma repeated the call on the security agencies to do their job without hindrance and to ensure that those behind the dastardly act are fished out to serve as a deterrent to others.
On the activities of the perpetrators of the killing, the Governor who described them as criminals said they were propelled by the memory of the past that is still hunting them, noting that, “we should find courage and appreciate the fact that a lot of work had gone into the peace process.”
He maintained that the South East region in general and Imo State, in particular, crave peace and advised the people to come out and go about their businesses “without fear of any molestation by anybody.”
He insisted that his government is doing its best in the area of security “and God is supporting and helping us.”
