ASSAULT ON THE MILITARY IN ABIA AND GOVERNMENT`S TIMELY RESPONSE
By Emeka Nwosu, PhD.
The peace of Abia was shattered last week Wednesday when a group of unknown gun men crossed over from the Imo-Abia border at Onuimo to attack a military checkpoint at the border town of Ekenobizi in Umuopara, Umuahia South Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia State. The brutal assault resulted into the death of three soldiers while scores suffered several degrees of injuries.
In a video that went viral on the social media, one of the gunmen that carried out the attack was overheard warning and issuing threat to the Governor of the State, Dr. Alex Otti should the various military checkpoints in the State were not removed. The audacity and impudence of these elements have continued to send shock waves across the length and breadth of the State.
The attack is reminiscent of a similar assault against a military checkpoint in Aba sometime in May this year which also resulted in fatalities. Whatever are the intentions of these criminal elements, their actions constitute a huge threat to the peace of the state which the people have been enjoying since the emergence of Dr. Otti on the political saddle. These unprovoked attacks on the security agents are highly reprehensible and condemnable.
There have been a plethora of reactions from people of goodwill in the state condemning this dastardly act. They have empathized with the military and assuring that noting should be left undone to ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime are brought to book.
But much more importantly, what has gladdened the hearts of many was the timely response of Governor Alex Otti to this unfortunate development. In a swift reaction, the Governor, in a letter, reached out to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, expressing the condolences of the government and people of Abia State to the Nigerian Army and the families of the fallen soldiers. The Governor also commiserated with the GOC 82 Division, Enugu; the Commander, 14 Brigade, Ohafia; and the Commanding Officer, 145 Battalion, Umuahia, where the men were drawn from.
The Governor recalled the Aba incident and how he collaborated with the military to ensure that all the culprits were apprehended and dealt with in accordance with the law, assuring that the Abia State Government would not rest on its oars until the killers are fished out and brought to justice.
His words: “You may recall that on May 30 this year, a similar event happened at the Obikabia Junction near Aba. Together with your men and other security agencies, we started a manhunt for the criminals and luckily, the masterminds have since been apprehended. Let me assure you that the Abia State Government will not rest until the perpetrators of this dastardly act are apprehended and dealt with accordingly. My administration is poised to join hands with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation with a view to unmasking those behind the attack”.
He intimated the Army Chief that in due course, he was going to make contact with the immediate families of all the soldiers affected with a view to supporting them as they mourn their loved ones. The governor has acted with promptitude and immediacy which the situation required. This is reassuring and commendable. There is no doubt that such a timely response by the governor would go a long way in calming frayed nerves and bringing hope to the families of these gallant soldiers who died in active duty to their fatherland.
By his swift reaction, the governor has demonstrated leadership and capacity in crisis management. His expressed commitment to cooperate with the military to fish out the culprits and assurance to reach out and give support to the bereaved families would help to de-escalate tension and prevent any form of reprisal actions by the military.
It is unfortunate that some miscreants in the name of bandits and unknown gun men are trying to disturb the peace of Abia State in spite of all the strategic efforts the governor has made since he assumed office to provide security in every part of the State. The governor has a track record in this regard. It will be recalled that Abia was notorious for insecurity prior to the emergence of Otti as governor. Many parts of the State were dens of devious elements, especially the Lokpanta-Umunneochi axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway where kidnappers, armed robbers, ritualists, drug addicts, killers and other sundry criminals held sway.
The governor set up one of the most formidable security outfits known as Operation Crush. The Joint Security outfit is well equipped with modern communication gadgets. With the robust security measures he put in place, the governor within a relatively short period was able to stamp out the criminality around Lokpanta and other bad spots in the State.
It seems that the incident at Ekenobizi and the one before at Aba were being instigated by opposition elements to give the impression that there is a breakdown of law and order. Such a plot is dead on arrival. With Operation Crush, there is no hiding place for criminals in Abia State. And given the avowed promise of the governor to track down the killers, it is a question of time before they are apprehended. The days of the perpetrators of the heinous crime are, indeed, numbered.
The people of Abia State trust in the capacity of their governor to secure the State, and therefore cannot succumb to fear or intimidation by non-state actors.
Dr. Nwosu, a Public Policy Analyst, writes from Umuahia.
Email: cdnwosu2@gmail.com