NBA Ukwa Branch Condemns Killing Of Two Soldiers In Abia State Calls For Investigation

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ukwa Branch, has condemned the killing of two soldiers on their duty posts in Abia State by some unknown persons

In a statement made available to TheNigeriaLawyer (TNL), the Branch condoled with families of the deceased soldiers and pledged to visit the said families.

The Branch urged the army not to launch a reprisal attack on the people and call on the Police to investigate the situation

Read the full statement below:

NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION (NBA), UKWA BRANCH CONDEMNS THE KILLING OF SOLDIERS AT THE UZUAKU/OWAZA AXIS OF UKWA WEST L.G.A., ABIA STATE; APPEALS AGAINST ANY REPRISAL ATTACK BY THE ARMY AND CALLS FOR PROPER INVESTIGATION.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ukwa Branch has condemned the killing of two soldiers on their duty post along the Uzuaku/ Okorhia/ Owaza Road, Asa in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State by yet to be identified criminals.

In a communique at the end of its monthly General Meeting on Friday, 25th Sept, 2020 at Obehie, Asa, Ukwa West LGA, and signed by the Chairman, Sir S.E.C. Nwosu and Secretary, Kingsley Nwachukwu, Esq, the (NBA, Ukwa) Branch commiserated and condoled with the immediate families of the dead soldiers, the Nigerian Army and the nation at large on the sad incident.

The branch further resolved to pay a condolence visit to the Nigerian Army at its 144 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Asa to formally and officially commiserate with the Army over the mishap.

The communique reads in part as follows, “regarding the alleged siege on the surrounding communities by the Army as a result of the killing, the NBA, Ukwa) Branch appeals to the Nigerian Army to withdraw the troops and end its seige on the communities around the scene of the crime and allow the residents of the communities to return to their homes”.

The branch noted that the killing of the soldiers is a heinous crime against the society as a whole and not just the Army and stated that the killing cannot be assuaged by any display of hostility against the communities or any reprisal attacks on defenseless citizens.

The communique called on the Government of Abia State to as a matter of urgency reach out to the Army high command with a view to interfacing with the authorities to stave off any reprisal attacks on the people noting that it was the primary responsibility of the government to ensure the protection of lives and property of the citizens.

The branch stated that the unfortunate killing of citizens who in this case are soldiers should not give rise to the killing of more citizens by way of reprisal attacks by the Army.

The branch called on the detective units of the various security agencies including the police to swing into action and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.

The branch also appealed to any person(s) with useful information on the killing of the soldiers to make such information available to the Nigerian Army or any of the other security agencies.

When contacted, the Chairman of the NBA, Ukwa Branch, Sir Nwosu, confirmed that the alleged killing of the soldiers was of serious concern to the branch as same has brought untold hardship to the residents of the surrounding communities who constitute the immediate catchment area of the NBA Ukwa Branch hence creating tension in the entire area.
He further called on the Army high command to prevail on the men not to carry out any revenge attacks on the communities as the same will amount to double jeopardy on the society and the people.