Reps to security agencies: Thoroughly probe despicable killing of soldiers in Abia

The House of Representatives strongly denounced the tragic deaths of five soldiers in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State.

The soldiers were fatally shot on May 30 by armed individuals who were said to be enforcing a mandated stay-at-home directive from the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The assailants attacked a military checkpoint at Obikabia junction in the local government area, resulting in the soldiers’ deaths. Regional governors and Ben Kalu, the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, have expressed their condemnation for this heinous act against the soldiers.

During a full meeting held on Wednesday, the lower house of the legislature urged security forces to carry out a comprehensive and exhaustive inquiry into the events that resulted in the brutal, horrific, and abhorrent murder of the soldiers.

The resolution was approved by the green chamber after endorsing a proposal put forward by Abubakar Yalleman, who heads the house committee on police.

Yalleman highlighted that attacks on military members frequently occur through sudden assaults at military bases, such as checkpoints and regular patrols.

He emphasized that the military personnel were carrying out a peacekeeping mission to protect their country and ensure the safety of civilians and property in the region.

The lawmaker expressed concern over the killings of soldiers by armed individuals in various parts of Nigeria, warning that such incidents could lower the morale of the armed forces, endanger civilian lives and property, and undermine progress in addressing insecurity.

He cautioned that these events might provoke military retaliation, resulting in significant harm to civilians. Babajimi Benson, head of the defense committee in parliament, also voiced his distress at the loss of soldiers who work tirelessly to safeguard Nigeria from harm by unidentified assailants.

The speaker expressed deep sorrow over the recent killings, stating that they are a direct challenge to the armed forces.

Yusuf Gagdi, head of the navy committee, echoed this sentiment by condemning the daily attacks on security personnel by gunmen as completely unacceptable.

Gagdi emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue, which was met with unanimous agreement during a voice vote led by Ben Kalu.

As a result, the house tasked the defence committee with collaborating closely with the armed forces to conduct a thorough investigation within four weeks.