Kehinde Fajobi
Two soldiers were killed in an attack on an army checkpoint early Wednesday at Ekenobizi, a border community between Abia and Imo states in Umuopara, Umuahia South Local Government Area.
According to Punch, a military source, who requested anonymity, reported the attack occurred around 6:18 a.m., with the assailants arriving in a white Lexus SUV, though their exact number remains unclear.
Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA confirmed the incident in a press release, attributing the attack to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
“In the early hours of today, 13 November 2024, troops of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA, deployed at a checkpoint along the Umuahia–Owerri Road in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, came under attack by the irredentist group Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network,” he stated.
Unuakhalu detailed that the soldiers repelled the attackers, who fled with gunshot wounds and abandoned a Sienna and Lexus Jeep used in the assault. However, he confirmed that “in the ensuing firefight, two soldiers paid the supreme price.”
The Joint Task Force appealed to residents, especially in Abia State, for credible information to track down the attackers and address criminal activities in the region.
The force emphasised its commitment to safeguarding lives and property in adherence to global best practices and its rules of engagement.