Abia: Don’t Be Fierce In Your Reprisal, Igbo Elders Beg Military

Igbo elders have begged the Nigeria military not to be brutal in its quest to revenge the killing of five soldiers in Aba, Abia State on Thursday by hoodlums.

The elders appealed to the military authorities to rather deploy intelligence and fish out the perpetrators of the heinous attack instead of embarking on any military confrontation considering the collateral damage associated with such military engagement.
Speaking with Vanguard in Umuahia, former Governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Orji, condemned in strong terms, the attack on the innocent soldiers, but appealed to the military not to resort to any reprisal attack.

The former Governor rather urged the military authorities to deploy intelligence and fish out the perpetrators and deal with them instead of embarking on any military operation.

“It’s very unfortunate. It’s very wrong for people to turn around and attack those watching over them. Soldiers are there for all Nigerians and should not be attacked. These soldiers did nothing to warrant this attack. It’s very annoying.

“But I sincerely appeal to the military not to go on full scale revenge because that will be catastrophic. Let them mellow down and temper justice with mercy.

“Let them concentrate on using intelligence to fish out the perpetrators and deal with them. Let them not escalate the whole thing because there is tension already in the state”, Orji appealed.

Reacting also, former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, strongly condemned the “senseless and babaric attack”, but pleaded with the military authorities to temper justice with mercy for the sake of innocent citizens “who are usually the victims of any reprisal attack”.

“This is very unfortunate and condemnable. My heart goes to the Nigerian Army and the families of the deceased soldiers. I urge them to bear the loss with maturity and forgiveness.

“It’s very regrettable to lose a soul how much more a soldier with all the heavy investments in their training. But let them temper justice with mercy because it is usually the innocent people that bear the brunt of any reprisal attack.”

The former Senate President urged the military to carry out intelligence with a view to identifying the culprits instead of rushing in with military operation in the entire city to avoid collateral damage.

“If only they can tarry a bit and identify the culprits and deal directly with them. Any random operation will affect innocent citizens.

“Abians are not happy with this senseless attack on our soldiers carrying out their constitutional duty. But we as elders cannot even identify the hoodlums. That’s why a lot of intelligence is required to be able to know them and specifically deal with them.”

Similarly, former Chairman of the Nigeria Economic Summit, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, also condemned the killing of soldiers but appealed to the military to be considerate in its response.