Uzodimma, Kalu decry Abia soldiers’ killing
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, and House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, strongly condemned the recent killing of soldiers in Aba, Abia State.
Both leaders called on security agencies to swiftly apprehend the perpetrators responsible for this heinous act.
Uzodimma, who also chairs the All Progressives Congress Governors’ Forum, emphasized that such acts of violence are not characteristic of the Southeast region.
He urged for thorough investigations to bring the culprits to justice and ensure that peace and security are maintained in the area.
“This is uncharacteristic of our region and undermines efforts of Southeast governors to establish peace,” he lamented.
Uzodimma extended his condolences to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, and the families affected by the tragic incident.
He reassured the people of the Southeast that the government is fully capable of ensuring their safety and urged them to disregard any sit-at-home orders from non-state actors.
Deputy Speaker Kalu, advocating for peace between residents and the military, condemned the Aba incident as unwarranted and cruel.
He encouraged the people of Aba, known for their entrepreneurial spirit, not to be misled into thinking that shutting down businesses is in their best interest.
Representing Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, Kalu also urged the Southeast to support President Bola Tinubu, suggesting that failure to do so could have adverse effects on the region.
Former Senate Minority Leader Enyinnaya Abaribe, APGA – Abia South, expressed his dismay and condemned the killing of soldiers as disheartening and barbaric.
He called on the security authorities to apprehend the killers and ensure they face justice, emphasizing that there is no justification for harming or killing security officers. Abaribe also urged the military to handle the situation with care to protect innocent civilians from the actions of misguided individuals.
“I am at a loss as to the evil motives of those responsible for the killings. It can never be the character of our people and such devillish tendencies do not reflect who we are.
“Nothing on earth can justify what has happened. It is sorrowful and stands condemned. However, I appeal to the authorities to look beyond and consider the oblivious innocent civilians while going after the culprits,” Abaribe said.
Abaribe extended his condolences to the families of the soldiers, the military, and all Nigerians affected by the attacks.
The Defence Headquarters described the attacks on soldiers in various parts of the country as “self-sabotage,” expressing concern that military personnel deployed to protect the nation had become targets.
The DHQ emphasized the importance of unity between civilians and the military to combat common adversaries, calling for collective efforts to eliminate threats to the nation.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen Edward Buba, made these remarks during a news conference in Abuja, underscoring the need for a united front against security challenges facing the country.
He said, “The people want us to win the war against terrorists and bandits, and to win it is the military civilians need.
‘’We are the ones who are out there fighting the battle, and we need the support of civilians to win this battle.
“Jungle justice is not the way to go. It is not the way to go by civilians, especially since soldiers are putting their lives on the line. They deserve respect.
“However, our soldiers are humans and as human beings, they make mistakes. So, when they err, report them and military justice will take care of it.
“We need the morale of our soldiers to be at its maximum for them to fight. We need their fighting spirit.
“We have been fighting terrorism for more than 10 years. Some soldiers suffer from post-traumatic disorder. So, let common sense prevail. If our troops err, report them.
“The military, like other security forces, maintains esprit-de-corps, and when the junior ones are being attacked, we have to calm them down, so things do not deteriorate.”
