The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has strongly condemned the attack on a military checkpoint at Obikabia junction in Aba, Abia State, carried out by unknown gunmen enforcing a sit-at-home order on Thursday.
According to information gathered , the attack, reportedly executed by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), resulted in the deaths of at least two soldiers.
The streets in many parts of the Southeast were deserted following the sit-at-home directive issued by the secessionist group to commemorate 2024 Biafra Day.
In a statement, COSEYL President General Goodluck Ibem described the murder of the military personnel as tragic and condemned the actions of the perpetrators. Ibem asserted that the attack was the work of criminal elements “hiding under the cover of the Biafra struggle to perpetuate crime” in the region, particularly in Abia State.
“It is very unfortunate that soldiers who are peacefully performing their constitutional duties of providing security in the area will be attacked by gunmen without any form of provocation whatsoever. This is completely unacceptable,” the statement read.
Ibem noted that this was the second attack on a military checkpoint in the state and extended condolences to the military. “We sympathise and commiserate with the military over this great loss and we urge the general public to work with the government to bring the culprits to book,” he added.
