The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra( IPOB), has accused politicians of being behind the killing of the soldiers in Aba, Abia State.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by Emma Powerful, the group alleged politicians used criminals to carry out the attack, stressing that they are trying to create “problems in the peaceful Enyimba city”.
The statement read, “We condemn the attack on military on duty in Aba, we are not involved because sit-at-home was because of our fallen heroes and heroines and time of mourning and not to attack anybody in respect of that; therefore, anybody mentioning IPOB as responsible for the attack in Aba is under the control of something.
“IPOB has no chance to attack anyone; those responsible for this attack are politicians; they are planning to create problems in peaceful Enyimba City, so the governor of Abia State must be careful; they are coming to create a crisis in Aba.
“Those who were used to attack military on duty are criminals, not IPOB; we are much more engaged with sit-at-home to remember our fallen heroes and heroines who died during the genocidal war against Biafrans and Ndigbo. IPOB condemns the criminal activities of yesterday.”
It would be recalled that on Thursday, unknown gunmen attacked a military checkpoint and killed 5 soldiers and burnt 2 patrol vans and the checkpoint in Aba, Abia State, during the sit-at-home declared by IPOB to remember those killed during the Biafra civil war.
The gunmen were alleged to have seized their rifles and fled.
Meanwhile, the state government has offered a N25 million reward to anyone with useful information that could lead to the location and arrest of any of the criminals connected to the unfortunate killings.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, the State government condemned the attack and condoled 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 further urged traditional rulers in the State to set up suitable local intelligence gathering mechanisms in their localities and share whatever new information they get with the security agencies regularly and vowed to bring the full weight of the law to bear on any traditional ruler found to be harbouring criminal elements.
The state government further pledged necessary support to the security agencies in the State to protect lives and property and warned criminal elements to consider all parts of Abia as a no-go area is still in force.
