Reps to security agencies: Probe despicable killing of soldiers in Abia

The house of representatives has condemned the killing of five soldiers in Obingwa LGA of Abia state.

The soldiers were killed on May 30 by gunmen who were reportedly enforcing the sit-at-home order of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The gunmen opened fire on a military checkpoint at Obikabia junction in the LGA, killing the soldiers. 

The governors of the region and Ben Kalu, deputy speaker of the house of representatives, have condemned the murder of the soldiers.

At a plenary session on Wednesday, the lower legislative chamber asked security agencies to conduct a “thorough and wholesome” investigation into the circumstances that led to the “heartless, gruesome, and despicable” killing of the soldiers.

The green chamber passed the resolution following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Abubakar Yalleman, chairman of the house committee on police.

While moving the motion, Yalleman said assaults on military personnel are often carried out through surprise attacks at military formations, including checkpoints and routine patrols.

He said the military personnel were on a peace mission “in their service to their fatherland and ensuring the security” of lives and property in that area.

The legislator said the killing of military personnel by gunmen in the south-east and other parts of Nigeria “has the potential of dampening the morale of our armed forces, endangering the lives and property of Nigerians, and affecting the insecurity war, which has so far recorded some successes”.

He said the development could “lead to retaliatory attacks by the military and cause huge collateral damage” to the people.

Supporting the debate, Babajimi Benson, chairman of the house committee on defence, lamented that the soldiers, who are the nation’s “very priced assets,” sacrificing day and night to keep Nigeria safe, are being randomly killed by non-state actors.

“Mr speaker, it is indeed very sad. These killings are provocative to the armed forces,” he said.

Also speaking, Yusuf Gagdi, who chairs the house committee on navy, said it is unacceptable for security operatives to be killed by gunmen daily.

“This is not acceptable, Mr Speaker,” Gagdi said.

The motion was unanimously adopted when it was put to a voice vote by Ben Kalu, the presiding officer.

Consequently, the house mandated the committee on defence to interface with the armed forces to ensure the investigation is carried out within four weeks.