The South East Governors’ Forum has condemned the killing of two soldiers at a checkpoint in Aba, Abia State, on Thursday.
The attack took place at Obikabia Junction in Aba, the state’s commercial hub, and was attributed to pro-Biafra agitators allegedly enforcing a sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
On Thursday, May 30, the sit-at-home order was implemented in remembrance of the Igbo people who lost their lives in the Nigerian Civil War. The assault, which allegedly happened at six in the morning, involved the attackers exchanging gunfire with soldiers while driving SUVs and setting security patrol cars on fire.
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In response, the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, condemned the attack, calling it unfortunate. He said it portrays the region’s people negatively, suggesting they lack sympathy for human life.
“On behalf of my brother governors in the South East Governors Forum, I condemn the incidence and the loss of life of soldiers who were on their duty stations,” Uzodimma said in an address to journalists in Owerri.
“Without any provocation, they were attacked by the men of the underworld.
“The unfortunate thing is that it is going to act as a major setback to the peace process being pursued by the governors from the zone with the Federal Government, security agencies and other critical stakeholders on how best to resolve the problem of security in the region,” he said.
The governor condoled the Chief of Army Staff and the families of soldiers who lost their lives in the unfortunate incident.
“We here in the South East will ensure that we leave no stone unturned to ensure the peace needed for development in the region,” he added.
Uzodimma urged security agencies to go all out to ensure that those behind the dastardly act are caught and prosecuted.
He noted that people of the South East, out of fear of the unknown and memories of the past, obeyed the directive of the proscribed group.
“We have peace in Imo; I want people to go about their businesses without fear of being molested by anyone.
“We are after the perpetrators. Those who think we shouldn’t live should not live,” he said.
The sad reminder of the enduring problems plaguing the southeast of Nigeria comes from the deaths of soldiers in Aba. Overcoming these obstacles calls for a diversified strategy.
An important first step in opposing violence and advancing peace in the area is the South East Governors’ Forum’s denunciation of the soldiers’ deaths in Aba. All parties involved in Nigeria’s development must make a commitment to communication, rapprochement, and cooperative efforts to create a society that is more inclusive and peaceful as the country navigates this difficult time. Understanding, respect, and a shared commitment to resolving the underlying causes of conflict and division are the keys to achieving a lasting peace.
