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• Increases bounty on killers of 5 soldiers to N30m
From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Following the killing of five soldiers in Aba on May 30, by unidentified gunmen, the Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has visited the Ngwa High School Forward Base of the 144 Battalion, Osisioma, near Aba, where, apart from boosting morale of the officers and men of the Nigeria Army, he also pleaded for innocent suspects to be released.
Governor Otti had last Saturday also visited the 144 Battalion headquarters, Asa, where he commiserated with the officers, as well as paid condolences to the wives of the deceased soldiers.
The governor, who was received on arrival at 144 Battalion by the Commanding Officer, Major K.P. Duniya, on behalf of the Commander, 14 Brigade Ohafia, Brigadier General O.O. Diya, who later joined in receiving the governor, told the soldiers that although he had come to commiserate with them over the loss of their colleagues, that he would equally plead for the release of innocent suspects among those arrested over the incident.
The governor said he would like to reiterate his appeal to the army to carry out their investigation conscious of the fact that some of those already arrested in the course of investigation may be innocent.
“I’m also aware that some people have been picked up before now, but when I spoke with the GOC (Enugu) this morning, he told me that virtually everyone that was picked up has been released except for about nine or 10 people who are still being investigated.
“We, as a State, support thorough investigation, but we will also appeal to you that a lot of innocent civilians, who you will encounter may not have been involved. I believe that most of them are not involved. It is even possible that those who committed this crime came from outside the state. So, whatever be the case, we will not like to punish those who are innocent with those who are guilty because like it is said, two wrongs cannot make a right.
“So, I would like to encourage you, I would like to appeal to your leaders to ensure that people are treated decently, people are given the utmost respect that they deserve while we are doing our job of fishing-out the criminals,” Otti said. Otti said he came specifically to address the soldiers over the unfortunate incident that happened a week ago in Obikabia Junction, near Aba.
Meanwhile, Governor Otti on Friday announced an increase of the N25 million bounty placed on the killers of five soldiers at Obikabia junction in Aba to N30 million. Otti made the announcement when the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, paid him a visit in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of the state.
Recall that some gunmen had, on May 30, killed five soldiers at Obikabia junction in Aba. The governor said that the increase in the bounty became necessary following the donation of an additional N5 million by an indigene of the state based in the United States.
“Interestingly, the government has placed a bounty of N25 million and just yesterday, an Abia son, who also comes from Obingwa and lives in the United States, sent us N5 million to upgrade the bounty to N30 million.
“So I am happy to announce that the bounty has just been upgraded to N30 million, to encourage anyone that will have useful information that will lead to the apprehension of the criminals,” he said. Otti further stated that the state government had also started working with the security agencies to ensure that such incidents do not happen again in the state again.
He said that the government had been working round the clock to ensure that the state remained safe and secure. “We also want to thank the intelligence service of the DSS, as they dispatched quite some people here to help us to unravel this case.
“We are very single-minded about it. We must fish them out and ensure that they get the message that this place is a no-go area for terrorists, killers, kidnappers and other criminals,” the governor said.
