June 01, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government has described as barbaric and abominable, the killing of five soldiers on lawful duty at Obikabia Junction in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, vowing that the perpetrators must face justice.
Earlier, the Defence Headquarters declared that five soldiers and six civilians were killed on Thursday, during the attack by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and their armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Condemning the sad incident, Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, vowed that those responsible for the heinous act would be brought to justice.
The Minister, in a statement by the Director, Ministry of Defence, Henshaw Ogubike, said the killing of the military personnel was totally reprehensible and disheartening.
“The brutal assassination of the soldiers in Aba was without any provocation while on a lawful duty, protecting innocent citizens against the threat of non-state actors,” he said.
The Minister condoled the families of the deceased personnel and the Nigerian military, urging the troops not to be deterred by the attack.
Emphasising the role of local communities in counterterrorism, Matawalle urged citizens to provide information that could aid military operations against terrorist groups and keep faith in Nigeria.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the military in their efforts to defeat IPOB, ESN and other criminals in other regions of the country to ensure total security in the nation.
About the Author
