Umuahia bubbles again after military invasion as Military helicopter hovers around Kanu's village, Ikpeazu extends curfew to Friday

www.odogwublog.com reports that Life is gradually picking up in Umuahia the Abia State capital a day after the military invaded the city in commencement of the controversial Operation Python Dance 11.

Meanwhile Governor Okeezie Ikpeazu has extended the three- day curfew imposed in Aba to Friday.

The extension was contained in a press release issued Wednesday night in Umuahia.

The release signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Enyinnaya Appolos read in part: " The Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has extended the three days curfew imposed on Aba to Friday, 15th September 2017.

"The Governor wishes to advice residents and visitors to fully co-operate with security agents to ensure continuing maintenance of law and order within the commercial city and environs.

"He also wishes to express his displeasure with the situation where people are compelled to raise their hands while passing through security checkpoints and hereby call on security agents and all concerned to ensure that such acts, and other forms of inhumane and barbaric treatment of people, are discontinued immediately."

It will be recalled that following security concerns and potential for breakdown of law and order, the Governor had announced the imposition of three days dusk to dawn (6pm to 6am) curfew at Aba from Tuesday 12/09/2017 to Thursday 14/09/2017.

Tension and frenzy had pervaded across the  city on Tuesday following heavy presence of soldiers who patrolled the major streets with Amoured tanks , military trucks and vans in a 'show of force.'


The tensed atmosphere  almost snowballed into a major crisis following the invasion of the Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ) secretariat in Umuahia by the rampaging soldiers in the early morning hours.

They had smashed iPads and phones belonging to the journalists and brutalised them for allegedly trying to take pictures of the military convoy on 'show of force' .

The action of the overzealous soldiers attracted national and international condemnations.

But calm Wednesday returned to the city as the soldiers who had brazenly paraded their presence on Tuesday somehow piped low apparently because of the condemnation and global attention that greeted their attack on the NUJ office the previous day.

However, the soldiers were still sighted at strategic locations around the city and other parts of the state.
The presence of soldiers were not as visible as it was on Tuesday in Umuahia metropolis including the country home of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

However, IPOB members still kept vigil around their leader's house apparently in the eventuality of any attack on Kanu.
Military helicopter was also sighted hovering around Kanu's village perhaps to monitor the situation around the area.
Unlike Umuahia, heavy presence of soldiers was still reported in Aba where the army was accused of compelling some residents to help them carry sand to fill the sacs they used as barricades at road blocks.
Some residents alleged that they were made to do manual labour by soldiers stationed at a checkpoint at the Brass junction to reinforce the sand bags at the checkpoint allegedly destroyed by some angry boys the previous day.
 Traders count their ordeals over the curfew in Aba which has been extended to Friday.
One of the traders, Mr. Johnson Uchendu told newsmen that : “We are trying to live with the new development; the curfew has its economic implications because when you force a city with vibrant night life to go to bed early, a huge amount of money is lost”.

The curfew was declared by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in Aba following the reported clash between the soldiers and some Biafra agitators is still in place.

Meanwhile the General Officer commanding the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major Gen. Adamu Baba Abubarkar, in company of the Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade;  and the Deputy Governor, Ude Oko Chukwu had gone to Aba to address the Hausa community in the commercial centre.