The South East Governors’ Forum has strongly condemned the Thursday morning attack that resulted in the deaths of two soldiers at a checkpoint in Aba, Abia State. The attack, which took place at Obikabia junction, was reportedly perpetrated by suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as part of their efforts to enforce a sit-at-home order.
The assailants not only killed the soldiers but also set security patrol vehicles ablaze while enforcing the directive meant to commemorate Biafra Day. This violent enforcement of the sit-at-home order caused significant unrest and disruption in the area.
Speaking to the press in Owerri, the Chairman of the Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, labeled the attack as “unfortunate.” He emphasized the need for peace and stability in the region, condemning the use of violence to impose compliance with directives.
Governor Uzodimma and the Forum stressed that such attacks undermine the efforts to maintain security and order in the South-East, and they called for increased cooperation between the community and security agencies to prevent future occurrences.
“On behalf of my brother governors in the South East Governors’ Forum, I condemn 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.”
“The unfortunate thing is that it is going to act as a major setback to the peace process being pursued by the governors from the zone with the Federal Government, security agencies and other critical stakeholders on how best to resolve the problem of security in the region,” he said.
According to him, the incident will also portray our people in a bad light, as if we do not have sympathy for human beings.
The governor condoled the Chief of Army Staff and the families of soldiers, who lost their lives in the unfortunate incident.
“We here in the South East will ensure that we leave no stone unturned to ensure peace in the region needed for development,” he added.
Uzodimma urged security agencies to go all out to ensure that those behind the dastardly act were caught and prosecuted.
He noted that people of the South East, out of fear of the unknown and memories of the past, obeyed the directive of the proscribed group.
He urged them, particularly those in Imo, to find courage and understand that a lot had gone into providing security for them.
“We have peace in Imo; I want people to go about their businesses without fear of being molested by anyone.
“We are after the perpetrators. Those who think we shouldn’t live should not live,” he emphasised.