Soldiers invade Aba for missing rifle, as IPOB names two killed by soldiers

Soldiers have invaded Onyike Street by Port Harcourt Road in the com-mercial city of Aba, Abia State in search of two guns allegedly snatched from their colleagues on Monday by protesting members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
The first rifle was allegedly lost when it fell off the hands of a soldier who was beaten up by protesters. It was gathered that one of the protesting youths took the gun and disappeared into the crowd.
The second rifle was said to have been lost when it fell from the grip of a soldier as he was trying to jump into their moving patrol van along Port Harcourt Road.
The combat-ready soldiers on arrival in the area, ransacked every building and the adjoining streets.
They allegedly inflicted severe degrees of injuries on some residents and destroyed their property.
According to a resident, the soldiers broke into buildings and beat up everyone on sight.
Narrating his ordeal in the hands of the soldiers, a man told The AUTHORITY that he was washing his clothes when five soldiers broke into their residence and accused him of being a member of IPOB and started beating him.
Another resident who pleaded anonymity, told our reporter that the rampaging soldiers, after beating up some youths, laid them down on the street and asked them to produce the missing rifles.
Meanwhile, the two IPOB members who were shot dead on Monday have been named as Chidozie Okafor, a 20-year-old apprentice and one Tata. They were shot dead on St. Michael’s Road in the Enyimba City when soldiers moved in to stop the peaceful protest and disperse the agitators.
The late Chidozie was said to be returning to his master’s shop after his lunch at a food kiosk when he was killed.
Chidozie was a native of Omuohu in Eziagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, and was the only son of his parents. He came to Aba in 2015 to learn the sale of electronic appliances, empty discs and cassettes.
Tata, who was hit in the belly, died while being rushed to the Abia State University Teaching Hospital after the New Era Hospital had rejected him. Until his untimely demise, Tata was a dealer on phones and other appliances.
Lt.-Col. Sidi Umar, the Commanding Officer, 44 Battalion, Asa, who is in charge of Aba metropolis, told Journalists that he would investigate the matter to ascertain the veracity that the victims died of gunshots from his men.