May 29th: Killers of soldiers in Abia wont go scot free – Minister

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has condemned the killing of five soldiers on duty at Obikabia Junction in Aba, Abia State, calling the incident cruel and unacceptable.

The minister said he will do everything possible to bring the criminals to justice.

News360 Nigeria reports that soldiers were ambushed at their checkpoint by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and their armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), on Thursday.

Matawalle expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing the killing of the soldiers as utterly reprehensible and heartbreaking.

READ ALSO :REVEALED : Identities of 5 soldiers killed in Aba by suspected IPOB operatives

In a statement issued by Henshaw Ogubike, the Director of the Ministry of Defence, the Minister promised that those responsible for this heinous crime would be held accountable.

“The senseless killing of soldiers in Aba, who were on lawful duty to protect citizens from the threat of non-state actors, is without provocation,” Ogubike stated.

The Minister extended his condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and to the Nigerian military, urging troops not to be discouraged by the attack.

He reassured that the government remains committed to supporting the military in their mission to defeat IPOB, ESN, and other criminal elements across the country, ensuring national security.

Matawalle also highlighted the importance of community involvement in the fight against terrorism, calling on citizens to provide intelligence that could assist military operations and maintain faith in Nigeria’s security efforts.