It was a
bloody day in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State on Monday as
members of two pro-Biafra groups; Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and
Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra
(MASSOB) clashed while the groups were protesting the continued
detention of their leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Unconfirmed
reports from Sahara Reporters have it that about 30 injured members of
the two groups who sustained degrees of gunshots were being treated in
different parts of the commercial city; a total number of 7persons were
reported dead.
Report
also has it that another person who was said to have been hit by a stray
bullet died at a hospital within the city center where the victim was
rushed for medical attention, but due to loss of blood and delay in
getting medical attention, died in the hospital.
Sahara
Reporter's Newsman who monitored the protest report that the fracas
which ensued between the protesters and the security agencies forced
commercial activities to a standstill as many shop owners in various
markets and within the city center forcefully closed for business.
According
to our reporter, a 20-year-old apprentice who was identified as
Chidozie Okafor, the only son of his parents and a native of Omuohu, in
Eziagu local government council of Enugu State died immediately along
St. Michael’s road about 1.pm after a stray
bullet allegedly fired by a soldier hit him on his way back to his
master’s shop at Pound road after having his lunch.
It was
gathered that the pro-biafra groups who had forewarned Aba residents
last week ofMonday’s protest, after being dispersed by a combined team
of security agencies at National High School along Port-Harcourt road;
the usual point of takeoff in the morning, later regrouped around Asa
and Park road.
Sources
said that while the protesters had regrouped, security agencies that
were on their trail attempted to disperse them, but met stiff resistance
by the groups.
According
to the sources who claimed to have witnessed the incident said soldiers
serving under 144 Battalion having seen that they were being
overpowered by the protesters, started shooting sporadically in a bid to
scare the crowd.
They
said that the event however took another dimension when the live
ammunition from the soldiers’ guns hit some of the protesters.
They also confirmed that some members of the protesters were arrested in the process.
Checks
within Aba reveal that security was beefed up around various military
formations and police barracks in Aba and its environs.
In a
telephone chat with the National Welfare Officer of Uchenna Madu led
MASSOB, Mr. Jude Chukwu, he condemned the killings, and alleged that
about five members of the group were reported dead, while 30 members of
the groups were currently receiving medical attention in undisclosed
medical centers in Aba and its environs.
Chukwu
while blaming police and soldiers for the loss of lives claimed that the
protest was peaceful until the security agencies started firing live on
unarmed citizens.
God please hold Nigeria together and divide the camp of those trying to divide her in Jesus name!.
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