Two policemen and a soldier have been reported dead in Aba, after a bloody clash between the officers of the Nigerian Army attached to the Ngwa High School Forward Operation Base (Charlie Coy) and officers of Mobile Police Force (PMF 55) unit in Osisioma Local Government.
The Nation newspaper reports that one eyewitness, Chinyere Ikem, said the incident forced many shop owners to close for business while many petty traders along the Expressway abandoned their wares to scamper for safety.
Ikem said that while some passengers going to different parts of the country that were yet to board vehicles to their locations were trapped in the shootout. Ikem said,
“It happened like what we used to watch in American movies. It happened in a flash and before you know what is happening, trucks of army and police vans were everywhere.
“Police and army were shooting themselves face-to-face. From what we later learnt, two policemen and a soldier died in the gun duel. It is better seeing that being told.
“I don’t know what is happening at this Osisioma junction. Don’t forget that some time ago, police and army clashed here and shoot at each other leaving one policemen dead.
“I saw some people running with blood stain and I guess that they were hit be stray bullets. Police and army leadership in the state should call themselves to order.
“They are sister agencies and I don’t think that it is in their own interest to be fighting among themselves when they are supposed to be working hand in hand with each other especially as the state Governor is doing his best in tackling insecurity in the state.”
Reacting to the incident, the Abia State Government in a press release through the commissioner of information in the state, Chief John Okiyi said that the state received the disturbing reports with sadness.
Okiyi, who said that the state government was working with heads of security agencies to bring the situation under control, also assured that investigation was ongoing to know the cause of the incident and to fish out those behind the incident.
“We are working with the heads of the concerned security agencies in the state to ensure that the situation, which has been brought under control, does not repeat itself or escalate within the state.
“Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has also directed full investigation of the circumstances that led to the breach of public peace with a view to preventing future occurrence of such armed confrontation that endangers the lives of innocent citizens and security agents working in the state.
“While we are currently working with law enforcement agencies to review the immediate and remote cause of the incidence, members of the public are advised to go about their normal duties as the situation around the area has been pacified.
“Those responsible for this breach of public peace will certainly be unravelled and punished according to the law,” Okiyi added.
