*30 Sustain Bullet Wounds, 20 Arrested
Soldiers believed to be attached to the 144 Battalion, Asa, Ukwa East LGA of Abia State have shot dead 10 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who were engaged in a prayer session at the National High School, Aba.
247ureports reports that the IPOB members had converged at the School located along Port Harcourt road, Aba, from where they were billed to embark on a protest march to several parts of the city against the continued detention of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
According to eyewitnesses, the soldiers accompanied by a detachment of police in about 30 vans stormed the gate but could not get access as the IPOB members had earlier locked the gates. Some of the soldiers and policemen were said to have scaled the gate, made for the gathering and arrested the Aba Coordinator for the organization and some of his assistants.
A source told 247ureports.com that the soldiers ordered the IPOB members to leave the area, and started shooting from all corners when the latter claimed that they were holding prayers. But the soldiers started shooting killing 10 members of the group while others were engaged in arresting those they could lay hands on. Over 30 people were injured.
There was heavy commotion in the area as people, including shop owner fled the area for fear of being hit by stray bullets. At about 5pm, the security later herded the arrested IPOB members into the patrol vans and headed towards the Police Area Command headquarters in the city.
An IPOB official who declined to have his name on print said over 30 members who sustained bullet and other degree of injuries are now receiving medical treatment at various hospitals in the city.
Efforts to get the reactions of the Army and Police authorities in the state proved abortive. Army Public Relations Officer, 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Major Sidney Mbaneme, could not be reached, while the Abia State Commissioner of Police failed to reply repeated calls and text messages to his mobile phone. However, the Police spokesman, Ezekiel Onyeke, said he has no details about the incident.
