Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe was humiliated and ordered out of his vehicle by soldiers at a military checkpoint in Abia State. The incident occurred after unknown gunmen, identified as members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), killed five soldiers at a checkpoint in Obikabia junction.
Abaribe was on his way to a funeral ceremony when his vehicle was stopped at a military barricade. Despite his police security detail’s attempts to explain, the soldiers insisted that Abaribe must get out of his vehicle.
He was delayed for some time before being allowed to proceed.
The senator was stopped again by another group of soldiers on his way home and was ordered out of his vehicle. He was kept for some time before being released. Abaribe eventually detoured to Umuahia and returned to Abuja the next day.
The Nigerian Army has promised to respond fiercely to the killing of the troops and apprehend the perpetrators.
A statement from the Director of Defence Media Operations identified IPOB/ESN members as responsible for the attack.
The army stated that the troops were deployed to enforce peace and protect citizens but were attacked by terrorists in three tinted Prado Toyota SUVs. The attack resulted in the deaths of five personnel, and investigations are ongoing.
The military has vowed to bring overwhelming pressure on the group to ensure their total defeat. Abaribe had previously signed a bail bond for Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, who failed to meet his bail conditions and was re-arrested.
IPOB had called for a sit-at-home protest on May 30 to commemorate Biafra Day, which led to the deployment of security forces and the killing of the five soldiers.
The incident has heightened tensions in the region, and the military’s response is expected to be severe.
