*As Southeast states stay indoors tomorrow, Monday
By our correspondent
President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR has given the nation’s security forces marching order to fish out any person or group of persons calling for, or enforcing the sit-at-home order.
The President’s order was part of a statement he personally signed on the killing of five soldiers last week in Aba, Abia State by persons believed to be members of the now proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
Sit-at-home is observed every Monday across the five (5) South-Eastern States of Nigeria on the orders of IPOB who are agitating for the creation of ‘Biafra’ nation. Five soldiers were killed last week by suspected IPOB members while celebrating the 57th Anniversary of the declaration of the now defunct Republic of Biafra.
The five soldiers killed are:
Sergeant Charles Ugochukwu (94NA/38/1467)
Sergeant Bala Abraham (03NA/53/1028)
Corporal Gideon Egwe(10NA/65/7085)
Corporal Ikpeama Ikechukwu (13NA/70/5483)
Corporal Augustine Emmanuel (13NA/70/6663).
Reacting to the killing, the President in his statement dated June 1, 2024, said “I have yet received another disheartening news of the killing of five soldiers by suspected militants of the proscribed terrorist organization, IPOB.
The slain soldiers were on peacekeeping duty in Aba, Abia State on Thursday when they were murdered, just two months after a similar tragic incident happened in Okuama in Delta state.
These unwarranted barbaric and evil acts stand condemned and should never be condoned and tolerated in our country.
Our soldiers and the police have the onerous duty to protect all of us from aggressors and non state actors. Hundreds of them have paid the ultimate price in fulfilment of their duty, while some have experienced the indignity of being manhandled by the people they protect.
They surely do not deserve the mindless attacks by unruly elements in our society.
The federal government will come down heavily against those who have made it a habit to needlessly attack the officers and men of our armed forces.
On no account should anyone, under any guise, have the audacity to kill agents of state”.
While expressing his belief in the capacity of the nation’s Armed Forces to crush any violent non-state actors, President Tinubu warned that their restraint should not be mistaken for weakness.
He continues “I want to make it clear that the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the armed forces have the capacity to crush violent non-state actors, making our communities unsafe.
I urge security agencies not only to fish out the masterminds and perpetrators of the Aba attack but also those calling on people to stay at home. Their action is nothing but a treasonable offence.
The fact that the security forces are exercising necessary restraints should not be mistaken for weakness.
We are working to build a peaceful and harmonious society, but nobody should be under any illusion that the government will not act appropriately when the lives of our officers and men are wantonly taken.
While my condolences go to the families of the five slain soldiers, their colleagues and the leadership of our armed forces, I urge other men and women on peacekeeping duty not to be discouraged by the unfortunate incident in Aba”