Nigerian Police Urge South-East Residents to Help Arrest Killers of Five Soldiers in Abia

Gunmen on Thursday stormed the military unit at Obikabia Junction, Ogbor Hill area, and also burnt the unit patrol van parked in the unit. Some soldiers were alleged to have escaped the attack by the gunmen.

The Abia State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, has assured Nigerians that the killers of five personnel of the Nigerian military in Aba will be arrested and the law will take its course.

The Abia State Government, SaharaReporters reported on Friday, had placed a N25million bounty on the killers of the five soldiers in the Aba area of the state.

Gunmen on Thursday stormed the military unit at Obikabia Junction, Ogbor Hill area, and also burnt the unit patrol van parked in the unit. Some soldiers were alleged to have escaped the attack by the gunmen.

The state government described it as unfortunate and prayed for the repose of the souls of the gallant soldiers who died on active duty.

“To underscore its resolve, the state government is offering a N25million 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,” a statement by the commissioner for Information and Culture, Okey Kanu, read.

However, addressing journalists after expanded meeting of the state Security Council and the newly inaugurated members of the Abia Advisory Council, the Police Commissioner, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, described the killing as “unfortunate and condemnable”.

He said, “The point is that it is a very unfortunate incident and it’s highly condemnable and indeed it’s cowardly but it happened yesterday.

“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 said.

While called on the citizens and residents of the state to move about their lawful businesses without fear of molestation, the CP advised that they should equally relate with security agencies on information that would led to the arrest of the criminals.

“Every now and then, there is no society that is completely immune from security breaches even the most developed climes. So no matter what happens, we must go about our business and we must also continue to improve on what we have put in place to ensure that things don’t get out of hand.”

While called on the citizens and residents of the state to move about their lawful businesses without fear of molestation, the CP advised that they should equally relate with security agencies on information that would led to the arrest of the criminals.

“Every now and then, there is no society that is completely immune from security breaches even the most developed climes. So no matter what happens, we must go about our business and we must also continue to improve on what we have put in place to ensure that things don’t get out of hand.”

The CP disclosed that the council would continue to engage with the stakeholders and to fashion out measures that will continue to enhance the capacity of various security agencies to deliver on their mandate.