Grieving Defence Headquarters on Friday says it will be fierce in its response to the savage attacks and killings of soldiers by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Abia state.
It also vowed to bring “overwhelming military pressure on the group to ensure their total defeat.”
The Daily Crucible reported yesterday that gunmen suspected to be members of the outlawed seccessionist group – IPOB, attacked a military checkpoint in Abia, killing some soldiers and injuring others.
Announcing the resolve of the military to end the reign of terror foisted on the Southeast geopolitical zone by the group, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen. Edward Buba said in a statement on Friday, May 31, that investigations are ongoing on the Abia attack.
The five soldiers were kïlled at a checkpoint in Obingwa local government areas on Thursday, May 30.
It was learnt that IPOB militants in three tinted Prado Toyota SUVs and others from built-up areas around the checkpoint, attacked the unsuspecting soldiers.
Gen. Buba said the military would mourn the slain soldiers as men lost in battle,
He said: “Overall, it must be reiterated that the lifeline of the terrorist is the people and this situation is no exemption. Winning the war without the support of the people is close to impossible. The IPOB capitalized on this to perpetrate attacks on the troops. The situation leaves more to be desired.
“Accordingly, it is absolutely imperative that the military retaliate against this dastardly act against troops.
“The military would be fierce in its response. We would bring overwhelming military pressure on the group to ensure their total defeat.”
