• Vows tough action against violent non-state actors

• Directs security agencies to go after Aba killings’ masterminds

President Bola Tinubu talked tough yesterday on the sit-at-home action in the South East, labeling it treasonable.

He warned that decisive sanctions now await violent non-state actors like the gunmen who killed five soldiers at the Obikabia Junction checkpoint in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State last Thursday.

The soldiers were attacked by people the Defence Headquarters said were members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) during the sit-at-home called by IPOB to mark this year’s Biafra Day.

President Tinubu directed security agencies to fish out the masterminds and executors of the killings as well as those calling for sit-at-home.

The President said the exercise of restraint by security forces in dealing with violent attacks on its personnel should not be mistaken for weakness, pointing out that the federal government would not hesitate to take appropriate action when the lives of its security officers and men are wantonly wasted.

The President who put his thoughts on the constant abuse and attacks on state’s agents by the citizens they have sworn to protect, in a statement he personally authored last night, lamented the recent developments and expressed  his condolences to the bereaved families  and colleagues of the deceased, as well as the nation‘s security forces.

He said: “The slain soldiers were on peacekeeping duty in Aba, Abia State on Thursday when they were murdered, just two months after a similar tragic incident happened in Okuama in Delta State.

“These unwarranted barbaric and evil acts stand condemned and should never be condoned and tolerated in our country.

“I want to make it clear that the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the armed forces have the capacity to crush violent non-state actors, making our communities unsafe.

“I urge security agencies not only to fish out the masterminds and perpetrators of the Aba attack but also those calling on people to stay at home. Their action is nothing but a treasonable offence.

“The fact that the security forces are exercising necessary restraints should not be mistaken for weakness.

“We are working to build a peaceful and harmonious society, but nobody should be under any illusion that the government will not act appropriately when the lives of our officers and men are wantonly taken.

“While my condolences go to the families of the five slain soldiers, their colleagues and the leadership of our armed forces, I urge other men and women on peacekeeping duty not to be discouraged by the unfortunate incident in Aba.”

 He noted that soldiers and policemen of the country have continued to make sacrifices for the safety of all Nigerians, adding that they do not deserve the sort of attacks on them in some recent isolated cases.

“Our soldiers and the police have the onerous duty to protect all of us from aggressors and non-state actors. Hundreds of them have paid the ultimate price in fulfillment of their duty, while some have experienced the indignity of being manhandled by the people they protect.

“They surely do not deserve the mindless attacks by unruly elements in our society.

“The federal government will come down heavily against those who have made it a habit to needlessly attack the officers and men of our armed forces.

“On no account should anyone, under any guise, have the audacity to kill agents of state.”

Killers of soldiers can’t escape, Abia Police boss vows

Abia State Police Commissioner Kenechukwu Onwuemelie pledged yesterday that  the law would definitely  take its course in the killing of the soldiers.

Briefing newsmen after an expanded meeting of the state security council and the newly inaugurated members of the State Advisory Council, CP Onwuemelie described the killing as unfortunate and condemnable.

“The point is that it is a very unfortunate incident and it is highly condemnable and, indeed, it is cowardly.

“All I can tell you is that the security agencies, the government of Abia State and all well meaning Nigerians feel very bad about what happened, and everything that needs to be done will be done to ensure that it does not happen again.

“And even if it happens, the law will take its course.”

He called on the citizens and residents of the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear of molestation and to be forthcoming in their relationship with security agencies.

He said: “Every now and then, there is no society that is completely immune from security breaches, even the most developed climes.

“So no matter what happens, we must go about our business and we must also continue to improve on what we have put in place to ensure that things don’t get out of hand.”

CP Onwuemelie said the council would continue to engage with the stakeholders and to fashion out measures that would enhance the capacity of various security agencies to deliver on their mandates.

The Defence Headquarters had, on Friday, vowed a fierce and overwhelming response to the killing of the five soldiers.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen. Edward Buba, said in Abuja that “it is absolutely imperative that the military retaliate against this dastardly act against troops.

“The military would be fierce in its response. We would bring overwhelming military pressure on the group to ensure their total defeat,” he said.

The State government placed a N25 million bounty on the perpetrators and described the killing as a serious affront to its resolve to ensure security of life and property.