Military Confirms Killing Of Five Soldiers By IPOB/ESN Terrorists In Abia, Plans For Revenge

The military also confirmed that six civilians were killed in the resulting crossfire be tween terrorists and soldiers.
The military confirmed a terrorist attack on its troops in Abia State on Thursday by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), which killed five personnel.
According to Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, the attack occurred at the Obikabia Junction Checkpoint in Obingwa Local Government Areas adjourning Aba metropolis, where troops from Operation Udoka had been deployed to enforce peace and protect citizens.
He claimed that the terrorists who attacked the troops in the surprise assault arrived in three-colored Toyota Prado SUVs and other vehicles from the built-up areas surrounding the checkpoint.
The military also confirmed that six civilians were killed in the resulting crossfire between the terrorists and the troops.
According to Major General Buba, an investigation into the attack is ongoing. The military also promised to retaliate for the attack on its troops, stating that their response would be harsh.
“Troops of OP UDO KA deployed at the Obikabia Junction Checkpoint in Obingwa Local Government Areas adjourning the Aba metropolis in Abia State were attacked and tragically killed by IPOB/ESN terrorists.
“The terrorists launched a massive attack on the troops deployed to keep the peace and protect the citizens. The terrorists, in three-tinted Prado Toyota SUVs and others from the surrounding areas, launched a surprise attack on the checkpoint. Unfortunately, the attack resulted in the deaths of five military personnel.
“The armed forces mourn the death of these troops, as every soldier killed in battle is a terrible loss. Meanwhile, the investigation into the attack is still ongoing.
“Overall, the people are the terrorists’ lifeline, and this situation is no exception. Winning the war without the people’s support is almost impossible. The IPOB used this opportunity to launch attacks on the troops. The situation leaves something to be desired.
“Accordingly, it is necessary that the military retaliate against this heinous act against troops. The military’s response would be fierce. “We would apply overwhelming military pressure on the group to ensure their total defeat,” the statement said.
The IPOB/ESN terrorists attacked the soldiers while enforcing a sit-at-home order throughout the southeast.
In a related development, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo, has distanced himself and IPOB’s detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, from the killing of soldiers in Aba.
Iwuanyanwu, who described the incident as sad and stated that Kanu was not behind the order to sit at home, urged President Bola Tinubu to use his political power to free Kanu.
He spoke shortly after visiting the detained leader in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday. He also advocated for a country-wide restructuring.
Last week, IPOB declared May 30 as a sit-at-home day in the southeast to honour “Our heroes and heroines” who died during the 1967-1970 civil war.
The outlawed group’s “Biafran Heroes Day” sit-in at home paralysed commercial and economic activities in parts of Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia, and Ebonyi states on Thursday, closing banks, schools, markets, motor parks, fuel stations, and other public places.