As tension mounts over the killing of soldiers in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, the State government has announced a N25 million reward for anyone with useful information on the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
The incident, which has drawn wide condemnation occurred on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at around 7:45 am at Obikabia Junction, in the Ogbor Hill area, Obingwa LGA, near Aba, where suspected criminal elements operating with several SUVs opened fire on men of the Nigerian Army on security duty, leading to the killing of five soldiers.
In a release issued by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, the State Government also offered to bear the responsibility of supporting the families of the slain soldiers, including payment of regular stipends to their spouses, and the education of their children to university level even as it conveyed its commiseration to the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed A. Lagbaja, and the Military High Command for the unfortunate incident and prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of the gallant soldiers who died in active duty.
The release reads: “As a Government committed to security, safety and peace within its territory at all times, the Abia State Government considers the event of Thursday, May 30, 2024, a serious affront to its resolve by criminal elements who are hell-bent on returning Abia to the dark days of insecurity and fear amongst citizens, especially in Aba, the economic heartbeat of the State.
“This is more regrettable in light of the fact that unprecedented investments have been made in the last one-year to restore the city’s public infrastructure and reposition it as an attractive investment destination for local and foreign businesses.
“The Government will therefore respond appropriately to reassure citizens, investors and friends of Abia across the world that it would be relentless in bringing the full wrath of the law to bear on anyone or group who constitutes the slightest threat to the peace and security of the land, whatever be their motivation.
“To underscore its resolve, the State Government is offering a N25 million (Twenty-five Million Naira) reward to anyone with useful information that could lead to the location and arrest of any of the criminals connected to the unfortunate killings, and the subsequent state of apprehension across the city of Aba and environs. The security formations in the State have been directed to treat informants with all the confidentiality required to guarantee their full cooperation and assistance until the criminals are fully apprehended and brought to book.”
The Government commended officers and men of the Nigerian Army in the State for maintaining a high sense of professionalism in their response to the distressing incident and urged them to “continue to show restraint, whether at the checkpoints, on patrol, or while engaged in other security duties, even as the Government continues to work with all relevant stakeholders, including the security high commands, traditional and community leaders to gather and process all intelligence information which will ultimately lead to the capture of the perpetrators of the heinous crime at Obikabia Junction, and anyone directly or remotely connected to it in any form.”
While it encouraged citizens to go about their legitimate duties without fear as necessary measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of residents, and businesses in all parts of Abia, the Government urged individuals with useful information on the activities and movement of criminals neighbourhood to share it with the security agencies as quickly as possible for necessary action.
It also directed Traditional and community leaders in all parts of the State to set up suitable local intelligence gathering mechanisms in their localities and share whatever new information they get with the security agencies regularly and pledged to provide necessary support to the security agencies in the State for the purpose of protecting lives and property.
“Very importantly, the earlier warning to criminal elements to consider all parts of Abia as a no-go area is still in force. Any attempt to test the will of the Government, as happened on Thursday, May 30, 2024, shall be resisted with every resource at the disposal of the State,” the Commissioner said.