From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Condemnations have continued to trail the killing of five soldiers at Obikabia Junction in Aba, Abia State on May 30.
This is even as the city has remained under military siege following the incident.
First to condemn the killings was the Senator representing Abia North in the upper legislative chamber, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, followed by his Abia South counterpart, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.
Both Senators in condemning the attack, described it as uncalled for and called on security agents to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous act.
The immediate past Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, condemning the killings, expressed deep sadness over the incident.
In describing the act as barbaric and unacceptable, Ikpeazu said in a statement, “killing of the soldiers doesn’t represent who we are as a people, such barbarism against soldiers who were on lawful assignment to keep our people safe is difficult to understand.
Ikpeazu while sending his condolences to the Chief of Army Staff and the families of the diseased, urged security agencies to be thorough in their investigations into the incident and fish out the perpetrators of the crime.
He, however, called on the military authorities to exercise restraint and professionalism during the process of investigation, and to ensure that innocent citizens were not made to bear the brunt of what happened.
Former Senator representing Abia Central at the Senate, Mrs. Nkechi Nwaogu, equally condemned the incident.
In a statement she said it was unfortunate such incident could happen when governments at the centre and the state were doing everything to maintain peace in the state and South East as a whole.
She commiserated with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Taoreed A. Lagbaja, and the families of the slain soldiers over the unfortunate incident.
Okey Ahiwe, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Abia Governorship candidate in the 2023 election, in his reaction, expressed sympathy with the Nigerian Army, and the families of the slain soldiers.
Ahiwe, while condemning the attack, called on security agencies to do all to ensure the safety of their personnel and prayed God to comfort the families of the slain soldiers.
The General Manager of ASOPADEC, Dr Joshua Onyeike in his condemnation of the incident said it was inhumane to kill soldiers who were on duty to protect the lives of the people.
He commended the Abia State Government for offering a bounty of N25m to anyone with useful information that could lead to the location and arrest of any of the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
Meanwhile, the city has remained under military siege following the incident.
Reports say it was difficult leaving Aba on Friday to either Port Harcourt, Umuahia or any other city, as road leading into the commercial city were blocked by soldiers.
Those who managed to travel from Aba to Umuahia on Friday, said they saw hell on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.
Eke Ogbonna, a trader who said he left Aba at about 9 am to supply goods to his customers in Umuahia, but arrived the capital city by 3 pm, a journey that wouldn’t have taken more than one hour.
“We left Aba main motor park at about 9 am, on getting to Arongwa Junction on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, the army blocked the road and we had to travel through bush paths until we rejoined the Expressway at point.
“On getting to Umuikaa Junction, the military personnel on duty asked all passengers to come down and trek with two hands raised for a distance of about half a kilometer before rejoining our bus that passed the checkpoint empty.
“It was the same in all the other military checkpoints along the road.”
Although, the blocked Arongwa junction axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway has been reopened to traffic as at Saturday, yet commuters find it difficult to travel, using the Expressway.
It was reported that inside Aba, the Ngwa Road Market some soldiers ordered closed on Friday, remained under lock and key as traders were not allowed to reopen the market as at the time of filing this report.
There were reported cases of indiscriminate arrests by soldiers of residents of the city.
Some spoke of the arrests of young men and women who were arrested, bundled into a waiting truck and taken perhaps to a military camp.
There was a trending online report in which a lady by name, Onyeukwu Amarachi Perpetual was said to have made a passionate appeal to President Bola Tinubu, Nigerian Military, Chief of Arm Staff, Taodeen Lagbaja, Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti to come to the aid of their family following the arrest of her mother, Juliana Baby Onyeukwu and elder brother Chisom Onyeukwu in the early hours of Saturday.
According to the report, Miss Onyeukwu who maintained that her mother and brother are innocent and pleaded for their unconditional release, said
“Until now I don’t where they took my mum, my elder brother and tenant to. Someone was with his picture and showed the Army people that he is the one” Onyeukwu said
She said elder brother recently lost his wife and have four children he is taking care of and that they’re not involved in any action that has caused insecurity in the State.
There was unconfirmed report that additional soldiers were drafted into the city, fuelling fear amongst residents that the military meant it’s word of retaliating fiercely.