Suspected Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) militants enforcing the sit-at-home order in Abia State have killed some soldiers in the state.
IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful, had declared May 30 as sit-at-home in the South East.
He said the action was to honour “our heroes and heroines” who died in the civil war between 1967 and 1970.
According to Powerful, “Annually, 30th of May is a solemn memorial day for Biafrans. To honor our heroes and heroines, Biafrans are asked to observe this one (1) day sit-at-home in reverence to the spirits of our departed heroes who fought for us to be alive today.
“Every Biafran in Biafra territory is expected to sit-at-home on this day and reflect on the danger of the forced unity called Nigeria that has taken millions of lives of Biafrans.
“To that effect, IPOB directs all schools, government offices, Private offices, Banks, transport unions, market unions and private individuals to shut down all operations in honor of our heroes and heroines on Thursday, May 30, 2024.
“IPOB directs all the residents of Biafra Land to stay indoors from 6am to 6pm on the 30th of May 2024. IPOB warns residents in Biafra to avoid loitering about on this day. Those who intend to travel to and fro Biafra land must do so before the evening of May 29th.”
The soldiers were however attacked at Obikabia junction in Aba, Abia State, by over 15 masked gunmen who also set their patrol van on fire.
A video that has gone viral showed the assailants shooting sporadically before setting the military van ablaze.
A male voice was heard in the background saying, “This army man is the only surviving person here. He was the only person that ran away.
“Does anybody here have a motorcycle?” another person in the video said.
The gunmen came in an SUV jeep and a Sienna bus.
Across the five South-East states, filling stations, banks, restaurants, and major supermarkets remained closed for fear of being attacked by IPOB gunmen.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, in his reaction, described the incident as “unwarranted, outrageous, unjust, cruel and absolutely condemnable”.
Kalu who represents Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, said that Aba people better known for their enterprising spirit and technical skills cannot be hoodwinked to think that locking up their shops and closing their businesses to stay at home was in their best interest.
Kalu in statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, reminded the people that Aba is the commercial nerve centre of the South East and as such plays host to people from all walks of life.
The deputy speaker also urged them not to trade their known hospitality with violence, saying that it is alien to the culture of Ndi Igbo.
He commiserated with the families of the victims, assuring the military hierarchy of legislative interventions to help unravel the masterminds of the attack and ensure that the unhealthy development does not reoccur in the future.
