Two soldiers were killed by armed non-state actors in Abia State, in the restive southeast of Nigeria. Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist group, ordered soldiers to stay at home. It is stated that the soldiers were shot and killed by unidentified gunmen.
The gunmen who are over fifteen in number and masked reportedly attacked the military men at Obikabia junction in Aba.
A trending video shows the assailants shooting sporadically before also setting the military van ablaze.
However, a soldier, who is believed to have survived the onslaught, could be heard in the video saying “it’s like he is the only one that survived; others have been killed.”
The soldiers were ambushed by the shooters in a Sienna and an SUV jeep. As of the time this report was filed, neither the Abia State Police Command nor the Military has commented on the incident that was reported. Following the announcement of a sit-at-home by Biafra agitators in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the Civil War, the South-East is currently under lockdown. Most locals are forced to postpone their plans and remain indoors out of concern for potential attacks by non-state groups.
The two soldiers that were killed in Abia State by armed militants serve as a sobering reminder of how precarious the security situation is in the southeast of Nigeria. A climate of dread and instability has been brought about by IPOB’s actions and the mystery gunmen enforcing sit-at-home orders; this has had a significant impact on both the local communities and the nation at large. To tackle this situation, a holistic approach that prioritizes discussion, economic development, political inclusion, and respect for human rights is needed, going beyond military solutions. The area can only achieve long-term peace and stability by using this strategy.
