From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Nigerian Army has said it was not relenting in its efforts to arrest those behind the massacre of five soldiers, on May 30, at a checkpoint at the Obikabia Junction, Aba, Abia State.
This is even as the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has announced automatic scholarship for the children of the slain soldiers up to university level.
The Brigade Commander, 14 Brigade Ohafia, Abia State, Brigadier General Olusola Diya, stated this when Governor Alex Otti paid a condolence visit to the headquarters of the 144 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Asa, in Ukwa West LGA, to commiserate with the widows of the slain military personnel.
Brigadier General Diya informed the governor that the army had been gathering intelligence to bring whoever was directly or remotely connected to the killing to book. He disclosed that two vehicles belonging to the army were burnt, weapons carted away, while five personnel lost their lives during the attack.
Otti had earlier vowed to smoke out whoever was directly or remotely connected to the killing of the five soldiers at the Obikabia Junction.
“Let me start by sending out words of sympathy to the Nigerian Army, the Brigade Commander himself and, most importantly, the families of the five fallen heroes. It’s as if General Diya was with me at the last place that we went to where I had promised everybody that was listening to me that we will smoke out whoever is remotely connected to this killing, whoever they are, wherever they are, wherever they run to.”
The governor condemned the dastardly and irresponsible act committed by criminals who want to destabilise the state and described it as very sad.
“We, as a government, will continue to condemn this dastardly act, a very irresponsible act committed by criminals who do not want any good for the society.
“It’s very sad but, then, it has happened, and because it has happened, we will need to move on, but we cannot move on without identifying those who are responsible”.
(Continued on www.sunnewsonline.com)
He pledged to work closely with all security agencies in the state, to ensure that no stone is left unturned to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to book. The governor announced automatic scholarship for the deceased children up to university level and would also ensure that the scholarship is legalised by the state House of Assembly, to ensure that successive governments continue with it.