Several persons were on Tuesday feared killed following the clash between soldiers and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Aba, the commercial city of Abia State.
Witnesses said, there was stampede at Ariaria International Market following the alleged sporadic shooting by soldiers carrying out their assignment code named ‘Operation Python Dance II’.
Trouble started when some members of IPOB who left Aba in the morning for Umuahia in solidarity with their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, over alleged invasion of his house at Afara Ukwu, Umuahia, were alleged to have been stopped by soldiers at Isiala Ngwa junction along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.
Some of them were allegedly manhandled. Witnesses said they were forced to roll inside nearby ponds.
The IPOB members, who escaped the soldiers’ wrath at Isiala Ngwa junction, were said to have met another set of soldiers at the Osisioma junction, outskirts of the city, leading to a face-off.
The soldiers were said to have shot sporadically as the IPOB members were moving towards Ariaria International Market, causing pandemonium as people scampered for safety.
The confusion which enveloped the Osisioma axis stretched beyond Ariaria market, to the Fly Over junction, a distance of over eight kilometres, leading to the destruction of some vehicles and death of unconfirmed number of people.
As soldiers condoned off the area, they shot sporadically to ward off intruders, and people ran for their lives, forcing traders to close business for the day and rush home.
INDEPENDENT called Godfrey Ogbonna, Abia Police PRO, severally to confirm the death report but his phone could not go through.
The situation was still very tense as at the time of filing this report, however, because of the tension, Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu imposed dusk to dawn curfew in Aba.
In a statement read by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, he explained that the dusk to dawn curfew was to forestall breakdown of law and order in the commercial city and to safeguard lives and property in the state.
The statement reads: “Abia State has for the past few days been the focus of security searchlight occasioned by the reported skirmish between some groups in the state, especially the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) with men of the Nigerian army.
“Government notes and has observed the frenzy of activities of members of IPOB within Afara – Umuahia, the ancestral home of the leader of IPOB for some months now.
“Government is equally aware of the recent proclamation by the Nigerian army of Operation Python Dance II within the South East geopolitical region of Nigeria.
“The operation as declared by the army is intended to check kidnapping, banditry, assassination, secessionist activities within the region, amongst other forms of criminal activities.
“The Abia State government unequivocally states that Abia is a component state of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and subscribes to the supremacy of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and all other extant laws.
“While the government of Abia State recognises the right of the Nigerian army and other security agencies to perform their statutory duty of protection of lives and property of Nigerian citizens, such duties must be carried out within acclaimed Nigerian and international standards of engagement with the civil populace, with due respect to the human rights of citizens and sanctity of human lives.
“The Abia State government is committed to the protection of the lives and properties of its citizens and others residing and doing business within the geographical entity called Abia State.
“Abians and others living within Abia, are advised to remain law abiding and carry on their lawful business without fear, as efforts by government will be made to reduce friction between the civil populace and military personnel in the state.
“Persons residing within the state are strongly advised to remain law abiding, while going about their lawful business without fear of molestation, and, not engage in any form of confrontation with military personnel or other security agents.
“The government recognises the constitutional right to freedom of movement for all Nigerians, but objects to the influx of people into Abia State for purposes of unsettling the enduring peace in the state.
“Finally, Abia State will cooperate with security agencies to maintain the rule of law and order in the state.”
Source: Independent
