PDP shocked *Police launch manhunt for killers
Following a threat to avenge the killing of its soldiers in Aba, Abia State on Thursday, by gunmen enforcing a sit-at-home order to mark Biafra Day, military authorities have been urged to exercise restraint and operate within the acceptable rules of professional engagement to avoid punishing the innocent for an offence they know nothing about.
In their separate reactions, the lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Ifeanyi Ejiofor.
Ejiofor; the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; former deputy governor of Abia State, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu; and former member representing Aba South in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Obinna Ichita, described the killing of five soldiers as a heinous and barbaric.
They appealed to the military and other security agents not to go on revenge to avoid further deaths.
Ejiofor in a statement in Owerri yesterday, distanced the IPOB from the criminal act.
He said: “I roundly condemn in unmistaken terms, the unprovoked attack on military personnel at a checkpoint in Aba, Abia State. While we pray for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives in this dastardly act, carefully perpetuated by the real enemies of Biafra and Biafrans, I urge for all hands to be on deck to ensure that those responsible for this heinous attack are fished out.
“Unfortunately, the victims of the envisaged reprisal attacks and/or arrests from the soldiers would be innocent citizens who know absolutely nothing about the incident. While we encourage a thorough investigation of this heinous crime, we shall at the same time urge the soldiers and other security agents to exercise the greatest restraint and operate within the acceptable rules of professional engagement, to avoid punishing the innocent for an offence they know nothing about.
“Furthermore, it is unreasonable to attribute the commission of this dastardly act to the IPOB, whom I am its lead counsel, even before any investigation has been conducted. IPOB has maintained its peaceful stance in their self-determination quest for a Sovereign State of Biafra, and has at all times, distanced itself from the activities of the criminals claiming to be freedom fighters, who have publicly taken responsibility for this heinous crime.
Sadness
Also reacting in a statement, Ude Oko Chukwu expressed shock, sadness and great pain over the gruesome killing of the soldiers, describing the attack as barbaric and senseless.
While condoling with the family of the deceased and the Nigerian Army over the senseless attack, he appealed to the military not to embark on a reprisal attack because of the collateral damage it would have on innocent citizens.
Chukwu however urged residents to have confidence in the efforts of the Governor Otti-led administration to ensure the security of lives and property in the state and go about their legitimate businesses without fear of molestation or intimidation.
Similarly, Hon. Obinna Ichita who is currently the Country Director/Principal Representative of the German Initiative for Knowledge Transfer eV, in Nigeria, described the attack as abominable and condemnable.
“I sympathize with the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff and service members of the Nigerian Army and the entire military over the senseless killing of their personnel. My heart goes out to the families of the fallen heroes”, Ichita said in the statement. The deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in the 2023 general elections, said he objected to the use of violence to achieve any goal while urging the military to refrain from any reprisal for the sake of innocent citizens who are usually adversely affected by such operations.
“I appeal to the leadership of the military and other security agencies to ensure that the personnel on the ground do not go against acceptable rule of engagement.”
In the same vein, the PDP in a statement by its acting state Publicity Secretary and Vice Chairman, Elder Abraham Amah, condemned the attack.
“The incident is quite regrettable, especially coming at a time when officers and men of the Nigerian military are working tirelessly to rid society of tension and anarchy and set up the country for forward movement towards development”, PDP said.
While condoling with the Army and families of the deceased soldiers, the party pleaded with the military “to be discerning in fishing out the perpetrators and ensure that innocent citizens do not fall victim to your efforts to give your slain colleagues justice.”
Law would take its course
Meanwhile, Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, has assured that the law would take its course on the perpetrators of the dastardly killing of soldiers.
Briefing journalists after an expanded meeting of the State Security Council and the newly inaugurated members of the Abia Security Advisory Council, Onwuemelie described the killing as unfortunate and condemnable.
He said; “The point is that it is a very unfortunate incident and it is highly condemnable and indeed, it is cowardly.
“All I can tell you is that the security agencies, the government of Abia State and all well-meaning Nigerians feel very bad about what had happened and everything that needs to be done will be done to ensure that it doesn’t happen again. And even as it happened that the course of the law will take place.”
He urged the residents to move about their lawful businesses without fear of molestation and be forthcoming in relating with security agencies.
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