Tragedy struck in Aba, Abia State, as an unknown number of Nigerian soldiers were reportedly killed in an ambush by gunmen on Biafra Heroes Day, a day declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) across the South-East.
The incident occurred on Thursday at the Obikabia junction in Ogbor Hill, according to video reports posted on X by multiple sources. The soldiers were ambushed, resulting in a deadly attack. “According to video reports posted on social media by a resident, the soldiers were ambushed, resulting in a deadly attack on a day the South East is mourning the men and women who sacrificed their lives for the cause of the Biafra War of 1967-1970,” a report by Politics Nigeria stated.
As seen in the now-viral video, some men set a military car on fire, and gunshots were heard. The streets were empty as residents observed the sit-at-home order.
The identities of the assailants remain unknown, and the Nigerian Army has not released an official statement regarding the incident, as details are still emerging.
Earlier, the separatist group declared a May 30 sit-at-home across the five Southeast states, warning that there would be no business activities and no movements to honour Igbo people killed during the civil war of 1967-1970.
Reacting, the Enugu State government rejected the sit-at-home order called by IPOB to mark the day, saying it had put security agencies on red alert to resist any attempt at breaking the law and order. IPOB had last week, in a statement by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, advised the West African Examination Council to shift WASSCE papers slated for May 30. It similarly advised the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Anambra State to shift its convocation slated for the same date.
