Aba Killings: House of Reps Orders Probe Amid Army Denial of Reprisal Claims in South-East

The House of Representatives has called for a thorough investigation into the murder of soldiers by unidentified gunmen in the South-East. This directive follows a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Representative Abubakar Yalleman, urging security agencies to identify and apprehend those responsible.

Yalleman decried the repeated attacks on military personnel, emphasizing the detrimental impact on national security and the morale of the armed forces. He expressed concern that such attacks might provoke retaliatory measures from the military, leading to significant collateral damage.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB) criticized President Bola Tinubu’s alleged order for military retaliation, asserting that the group was not involved in the killings. IPoB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, condemned the President’s statement as reckless and accused the government of attempting to blackmail the group during their Heroes Day celebrations.

In response, the Nigerian Army dismissed allegations from IPoB of mass killings and body dumping by military personnel in the region. Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Army’s Director of Public Relations, refuted these claims, describing them as unfounded and a deliberate attempt to incite unrest.

The Army clarified that the troops seen in a viral video, which purportedly showed mass killings, were actually Nigerian Navy personnel conducting a routine test firing in the South-West, not the South-East. They emphasized their commitment to maintaining peace and urged the public to disregard misinformation.

The House Committee on Defence, chaired by Babajimi Benson, praised President Tinubu’s swift intervention to ensure justice for the slain soldiers and highlighted the need for continued support and protection for security personnel serving the country.