A clash between personnel of the Nigerian Army attached to the Ngwa High School Forward Operation Base (Charlie Coy) and personnel of Mobile Police Force (PMF 55) unit in Osisioma Local Government Area of the State, reportedly left three people dead
in Aba, the commercial city of Abia State.
Different report claim that a police officer’s hand was severed in the shootout, while another claimed that two mobile policemen and a soldier died in the clash. The Nation reported that efforts to reach both police and army hierarchy in the state until the time of the report failed, as the State Commissioner of Police and the spokesman of the Command, Michael Ogbizi and Geoffrey Ogbonna were yet to reply to a text message. Sources who claimed to have witnessed the incident, feared that the incident which caused pandemonium at the major exit and entrance route into Aba also wounded many passersby.
According to an eye witness, Caro Ikem the incident caused many to close their shops,some left their wares to scamper for safety as lorry load of mobile and regular policemen arrived the scene that is already charged with gunshots. Ikem said that while some passengers going to different parts of the country that
were yet to board vehicles to their locations were trapped in the shootout, others coming into the country, used alternative routes to avoid being caught in the web of the crisis.
“It happened like what we used to watch in American
movies. It happened in a flash and before you know what is
happening, trucks of army and police vans were everywhere.
Police and army were shooting themselves face-to-face.
From what we later learnt, two policemen and a soldier died
in the gun duel. It is better seeing that being told. I don’t
know what is happening at this Osisioma junction. Don’t
forget that some time ago, police and army clashed here
and shoot at each other leaving one policemen dead.
“I saw some people running with blood stain and I guess
that they were hit be stray bullets. Police and army
leadership in the state should call themselves to order. They
are sister agencies and I don’t think that it is in their own
interest to be fighting among themselves when they are
supposed to be working hand in hand with each other
especially as the state Governor is doing his best in tackling
insecurity in the state,” Ikem stated
Confirming the incident, Abia State Government in a press release through the commissioner of information in the state, Chief John Okiyi said that the state received with sadness “disturbing reports of an unfortunate confrontation between a group of
soldiers and police officers at the Osisioma area of Aba earlier today (Friday June 15).
Okiyi who said that the state government was working with heads of security to bring the situation under control also assured that investigation was ongoing to know the cause of the incident and to fish out those behind the incident
