Soldiers gun down suspected sit-at-home enforcer in Aba, recover vehicles

Soldiers from the 14 Brigade, Ohafia, stationed in Aba, have killed a gunman suspected of enforcing a sit-at-home order in the Osisioma Ngwa area along the Enugu–Port Harcourt expressway.

The incident occurred amid heightened tensions and aggressive actions by the enforcers.

The suspected enforcers, who arrived in two ash-colored Sienna and Hummer buses, were reportedly intimidating traders and motorists, warning them against conducting business in observance of the sit-at-home directive.

They vandalized goods displayed by traders along the expressway, attacked an eatery, smashed its glass windows, and caused customers to flee.

The gunmen’s spree of violence continued as they intercepted an 18-seater bus heading to Port Harcourt in the Ugwunagbo area, forced the passengers to disembark, and then set the bus ablaze. They also hijacked a Lexus jeep belonging to a medical doctor, which was later torched a few meters away from where it was taken. Additionally, a vehicle with a government number plate was also set on fire.

Eyewitnesses reported to Vanguard that following the chaos, soldiers of the 14 Brigade cordoned off key areas, including Osisioma Ngwa, Tonimas junction, Bata, Ariaria junctions, and the Umuode-Umuojima areas. This created tension in the city and prompted business owners to shut their shops.

A security source from the 14 Brigade, Ohafia, informed Vanguard that the military pursued the gunmen into the Umuojima area, where a gun battle ensued. One of the gunmen was killed, and others were injured. The body of the deceased gunman was recovered by the soldiers.

It was also reported that a security personnel was injured during the operation and is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed private hospital.

The soldiers recovered a Toyota Sienna bus and another vehicle used by the gunmen, both bearing blood stains, indicating the severity of the confrontation.