President Bola Tinubu has vowed to come down heavily against those who have made it a habit to attack and kill officers and men of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
This is in stark reaction to the gruesome murder of some soldiers in Abia State, the President stressed that the Federal Government would not condone, under any guise anyone who dares to kill ‘agents of state’.
Tinubu made this known in a statement on Friday, titled, “President Tinubu’s Statement on the Killing of Soldiers in Aba”, which he signed.
Tinubu condemned the killings of armed government personnel, terming it ‘barbaric’ and ‘evil’.
On Thursday, gunmen in an attack left five soldiers dead at a checkpoint at Aba in Abia State.
The attack, which occurred at Obikabia junction in Aba, was reportedly carried out by suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra in a bid to enforce sit-at-home.
They also burnt down security patrol vehicles while enforcing the sit-at-home directive meant to commemorate Biafra Day.
Reacting, Tinubu said, “These unwarranted barbaric and evil acts stand condemned and should never be condoned and tolerated in our country.
“Our soldiers and the police have the onerous duty to protect all of us from aggressors and non-state actors.
“Hundreds of them have paid the ultimate price in fulfilment of their duty, while some have experienced the indignity of being manhandled by the people they protect.
“They surely do not deserve the mindless attacks by unruly societal elements.
“The Federal Government will come down heavily against those who have made it a habit to attack the officers and men of our armed forces needlessly.
“On no account should anyone, under any guise, have the audacity to kill agents of state.
“I want to make it clear that the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the armed forces can crush violent non-state actors, making our communities unsafe.”
The President also urged the security agencies to not only fish out the masterminds and perpetrators of the Aba attack, but also those calling on people to stay at home.
“Their action is nothing but a treasonable offence,” he added.
He also condoled with the families of the soldiers and urged other officers not to be dampened by the incident. (Punch)