Sit-at-home: gunmen kill soldiers in Abia, burn patrol vehicle

NO fewer than four soldiers were killed on Thursday, May 30, when gunmen attacked a military checkpoint in Obikabia Junction in Aba, Abia state, according to a Premium Times report.

The report said about 15 hoodlums launched an attack on the soldiers at about 8:00 a.m. while allegedly enforcing a sit-at-home order declared by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) across the South-East states.

The ICIR reports that the group had in April and early May said there would be a sit-at-home in the South-East geo-political zone on May 30.

On Wednesday, May 22, the IPOB warned the West African Examination Council and the authorities of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka to shift their respective examinations scheduled for Thursday while insisting that the day was to celebrate its fallen heroes during the civil war between 1967 and 1970.

The pro-Biafran group, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, said the remembrance of Biafra day remained imperative, and no government or security agency had the authority to harass any innocent person during the event.

The group noted that the warning became necessary because the movement of persons and vehicles would not be allowed on that day, except for those on essential or emergency services such as health workers, ambulances, fire service, filling stations and hospitals.

While enforcing the sit-at-home, a witness who identified himself simply as Marvelous told Premium Times that some masked assailants stormed the junction and opened fire on the soldiers.

Marvelous added that four soldiers were killed during the attack while one other was seriously injured.

“Four of the soldiers were killed. The other soldier sustained a serious gunshot injury. I am not sure he will survive it,” Marvelous said in Pidgin English language.

“The gunmen came in a black Highlander (SUV). Even some civilians sustained gunshot injuries,” he added.