By CHARLES IWUOHA

A former Peoples Democratic party (PDP) Chairman in Abia State, Senator Emma Nwaka, has condemned in strong terms the killing two soldiers at Owaza and Obuzor communities in Ukwa west local government area of the state.

It was gathered that gunmen suspected to be crude oil bunkerers last Monday night attacked the soldiers at a checkpoint near an oil pipeline between the two communities.

Nwaka, afrontline 2023 Abia governorship aspirant,in a statement issued on January 21, described the killing as “dastardly, horrible, and criminal assault on the integrity of law enforcement in the beloved state.”

The statement reads in part: “I am saddened by the reported killing last Monday night of two soldiers at a checkpoint near an oil pipeline between Owaza and Obuzor communities in Ukwa West LGA of Abia by gunmen suspected to be crude oil bunkerers.

“This killing is a dastardly, horrible, and criminal assault on the integrity of law enforcement in our beloved state. I am worried at the spate of insecurity and its disastrous consequences on economic and social wellbeing of our people.

“I am burdened at the growing poverty and misery of our people. This is not time for additional troubles for a people who are already hard pressed on every side.

“It is disheartening that these three soldiers died in the course of duty to fatherland. They didn’t send themselves to that checkpoint; they were there on duty to protect lives and property. Our prayers go to the families of the dead and to the Nigerian government.

“May God comfort the families of the fallen heroes. We recognize that the Nigerian Army, as a legal institution has the right to protect its soldiers when they are illegally attacked. But the revenge attack on Owaza community by soldiers from 144 Battalion in Asa was grossly immoral, highly irresponsible, and totally illegal, and must therefore be condemned by all Nigerians.

“It is reported that the soldiers set ablaze houses and shops in the area. This is a gross violation of the rights to property of members of the community and an infliction of unbearable economic losses to Owaza community and its environs in general.

“The revenge action of the soldiers is reprehensible for the reason that there is no evidence it was members of the Owaza community that attacked and killed their colleagues; These gunmen could have come from elsewhere.

“I commend the Governor of the State for strongly condemning the assault on law and order in the state. His quick and strong condemnation will send a signal to criminal elements that the state does not condone such acts that will destroy the economic competitiveness of the state and scare away both citizens and investors who would like to tap into the state to further make Abia truly God’s own state.

“As a leader in Abia, I am pained that the acts of some criminals causes severe pains for innocent members of our communities. As a leader I apply to the Nigerian Armed Forces to be restraint in dealing with insecurity in Abia and the Southeast and to seek more community-based and constitutional means of dealing with such criminality.

“As leaders, our commitment should be to ensure peaceful environment and policy support so as to create more wealth and jobs for our people in order to weaken the inclination and attraction to crimes.”