Following the recent face off between some soldiers and IPOB members in Aba and Umuahia on Tuesday, September 12th, the Abia state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has appealed to the Nigerian Army to reduce the presence of its officers in those parts of the state.
On Tuesday, some military officers had a clash with IPOB members when they tried to access a road close to the leader of the group, Nnamdi Kanu’s home in Umuahia.
IPOB members who were on their way from Aba to Umuahia to protect their leader had a faceoff with the soldiers, leading to the death of 7 of their members.
Governor Okezie last night, had a meeting with Traditional rulers and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) commanding the 82 Division of the Nigeria Army Enugu, Major General A.B. Abubakar, at Government House Umuahia.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Enyinnaya Appolos, the following are the highlights of the meeting:
1. The Governor and the Traditional Rulers appealed to the GOC to reduce military presence in the state, particularly at Aba and umuahia, as tension in the areas have gone down.
2. That the Nigerian Police and other security agencies should ensure that those who are brought into Abia from other states, in order to cause trouble and engage in acts capable of causing breach of law and order, should be prevented from entering the state.
3. That Traditional Rulers should further liaise with HRH Eze I.O Kanu (father of Nnamdi Kanu, Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB) to further explore ways of restoring peace and normalcy.
4. That Abians and those who do business in the state should go about their normal businesses without fear of molestation, while desisting from acts capable of causing the breach of peace in the state.