In the early hours of Wednesday, unidentified gunmen launched a deadly assault on an army checkpoint at Ekenobizi, a border area between Abia and Imo states in Umuopara, Umuahia South Local Government Area. The attack, which took place around 6:18 a.m., led to the tragic death of two soldiers.
According to a military source, the gunmen arrived in a white Lexus vehicle, though the number of attackers remains unconfirmed. The incident was officially acknowledged in a statement by Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA. “Early this morning, troops of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA stationed at a checkpoint on the Umuahia–Owerri Road in Abia State were attacked by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network,” Unuakhalu stated.
He went on to note that the soldiers at the checkpoint managed to repel the attackers, causing them to flee in disarray, sustaining injuries and abandoning a Sienna and a Lexus Jeep used in the attack. “In the ensuing firefight, two soldiers paid the supreme price,” the statement read.
The Joint Task Force called upon local residents, especially in Abia State, to provide credible information that could aid in tracking down the fleeing attackers and curbing criminal activities in the area. They emphasized their ongoing commitment to safeguarding lives and property in accordance with established rules of engagement and global best practices.
