2024 Aba killings
{{Short description|Armed conflict that occurred in Aba, Abia State of Nigeria}}
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| partof = Insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria
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| title = 2024 Aba killings
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| date = 30 May 2024
| duration =
| venue = Military checkpoint at Obikabia junction
| Location = Aba
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| type = Armed conflict
| theme =
| cause = Biafran Heroes Day
| motive =
| perpetrator = Unknown Gunmen
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| participants = 15 Gunmen
| outcome = Reprisals by the Nigerian Army
| casualties1 = 5 personnel of the Nigerian Army died and 6 civilians
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| reported deaths = 11
| reported injuries = 1 injured due to stray bullet
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| arrests = More than 100{{Cite web|url=https://allnews.ng/news/abia-over-100-suspects-arrested-following-killing-of-soldiers-army|title=Abia: Over 100 suspects arrested following killing... - AllNews Nigeria}}
| suspects = Members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN)
| accused = IPOB and BRGIE
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| timezone = UTC+01:00
| time = 8:00 a.m
}}
The 2024 Aba killings were an armed conflict that occurred in Aba, Nigeria, on 30 May 2024 in which at least 11 people were killed following the conflicting sit-at-home orders{{Cite news |date=26 May 2024 |title=BIAFRA DAY: S/East on edge as IPOB, Ekpa's group issue conflicting 'orders' |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/05/biafra-day-s-east-on-edge-as-ipob-ekpas-group-issue-conflicting-orders/ |work=Vanguard News}} issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) to commemorate deceased Biafran Heroes/Heroines. Among those killed in the incident were 5 soldiers and 6 civilians with 1 injured.{{Cite web |last=Ugwu |first=Chinagorom |date=2024-05-30 |title=Gunmen kill soldiers in south-east Nigeria, burn patrol vehicle |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-east/699097-gunmen-kill-soldiers-in-south-east-nigeria-burn-patrol-vehicle.html |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=Premium Times Nigeria |language=en}} The attack was widely reported to have been carried out by unknown gunmen against the Nigerian Army stationed at Obikabia junction, checkpoint.{{Cite web |title=Separatists kill at least 11 people in southeast Nigeria, army says |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/31/nigeria-114 |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cyril |date=2024-05-31 |title=Military vows to retaliate killing of 5 Soldiers in Aba |url=https://sunnewsonline.com/military-vows-to-retaliate-killing-of-5-soldiers-in-aba/ |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=The Sun Nigeria |language=en}}
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters threatened fierce retaliation against the perpetrators.{{Cite web |last1=David |first1=Tarkaa |last2=Eziyi |first2=Kalu |date=2024-06-01 |title=DHQ Threatens Reprisal As Abia Places N25m Bounty On Killers Of Soldiers |url=https://leadership.ng/dhq-threatens-reprisal-as-abia-places-n25m-bounty-on-killers-of-soldiers/ |access-date=2024-06-07 |language=en-US}}
Background
Prior to the incident, gunmen had on 17 May 17, 2024 attacked personnel of the Nigerian Army at an outpost in the Milverton area of Aba. The attack left two soldiers and one civilian dead. Governor Alex Otti condemned the attack and met with the Army.{{Cite web |last=Ugochukwu |first=Alaribe |date=18 May 2024 |title=Gunmen kill 2 soldiers, 1 civilian in Aba |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/05/gunmen-kill-2-soldiers-1-civilian-in-aba/ |website=Vanguard News}}{{Cite news |date=19 May 2024 |title=Otti Condoles With Army Over Killing Of Soldier In Abia |url=https://www.channelstv.com/2024/05/19/otti-condoles-army-over-soldiers-attack-death-in-abia/ |work=Channels television}}
Attack
On 30 May 2024, unknown gunmen numbering about 15 attacked soldiers of the Nigerian Army stationed at a military checkpoint at Obikabia Junction, Aba in Abia State, killing 5 soldiers and 6 civilians on the spot. Earlier reports indicated that 1 soldier sustained serious injuries, but later reports confirmed the soldier's death, bringing the number of dead soldiers to 5. The total death toll after the incident was reportedly 11 as widely circulated. 1 civilian was also injured by a stray bullet. An eyewitness said the gunmen used cars with tinted windows, which caught the soldiers off guard. Patrol vehicles were burnt, and the weapons of the slain soldiers were carted away.{{Cite web |date=30 May 2024 |title=Soldiers feared killed as gunmen attack Army checkpoint in Abia |url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/soldiers-feared-killed-as-gunmen-attack-army-checkpoint-in-abia/ |website=Tribune Online}}{{Cite web |title=Sit-At-Home Order: South-East Governors Condemn Killing Of Nigerian Soldiers In Abia {{!}} Sahara Reporters |url=https://saharareporters.com/2024/05/31/sit-home-order-south-east-governors-condemn-killing-nigerian-soldiers-abia#google_vignette |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=saharareporters.com}}
Reactions
Governor Alex Otti placed 25 million naira reward on the perpetrators. On 7 June, the reward was increased to 30 million Naira.{{Cite news |date=31 May 2024 |title=Otti places N25m bounty on killers of 5 soldiers in Aba |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/05/breaking-otti-places-n25m-bounty-on-killers-of-5-soldiers-in-aba/ |work=Vanguard}}{{Cite web |last=Sobowale |first=Adetutu |date=2024-06-07 |title=Soldiers killing: Abia ups bounty to N30m |url=https://punchng.com/soldiers-killing-abia-ups-bounty-to-n30m/ |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}} The Nigerian Defence Headquarters, through its Director of Defence Media Operations major general Edward Buba threatened fierce reprisals and overwhelming pressure on the perpetrators.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-31 |title=Military vows to retaliate IPOB's killing of soldiers in Abia |url=https://punchng.com/military-vows-to-retaliate-ipobs-killing-of-soldiers-in-abia/ |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}} President Bola Tinubu described the incident as a treasonable offense and threatened military action against the perpetrators.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-02 |title=Tinubu speaks on killing of soldiers in Abia |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/700033-tinubu-speaks-on-killing-of-soldiers-in-abia.html |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=Premium Times Nigeria |language=en}}
Prime Minister of the BRGIE Simon Ekpa said Tinubu had no legitimacy over Biafra and threatened in return that his government would deal with the Nigerian security agencies decisively.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-02 |title='You don't have legitimacy over Biafraland', Ekpa tells Tinubu |url=https://www.ripplesnigeria.com/you-dont-have-legitimacy-over-biafraland-ekpa-tells-tinubu/ |access-date=2024-06-13 |website=Ripples Nigeria |language=en-US}}
Aftermath
On 3 June, Aba residents started to flee their homes while others remained indoors for fear of reprisal by the Nigerian Army. Vanguard observed that soldiers had deserted checkpoints at Emelogu junction, Bata junction and Asa road in Abia State.{{Cite news |date=3 June 2024 |title=Killing of soldiers: Fear as Aba residents relocate |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/06/killing-of-soldiers-fear-as-aba-residents-relocate/ |work=Vanguard}}
In retaliation, the Nigerian Army raided communities, arrested and assaulted many Abia residents.{{Cite web |last=Ugwu |first=Chinagorom |date=2024-06-01 |title=Abia killing: Tension as soldiers arrest several people, harass residents |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-east/700001-abia-killing-tension-as-soldiers-arrest-several-people-harass-residents.html |access-date=2024-06-13 |website=Premium Times Nigeria |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2 June 2024 |title=Troops 'raid Abia communities, arrest residents' over killing of soldiers |url=https://www.thecable.ng/troops-raid-abia-communities-arrest-residents-over-killing-of-soldiers/amp/ |website=The Cable}}
On 5 June 2024, the Army denied committing retaliatory mass killings following allegations raised by Simon Ekpa.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-05 |title=Army debunks alleged mass killing in South-east |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/701206-army-debunks-alleged-mass-killing-in-south-east.html |access-date=2024-06-13 |website=Premium Times Nigeria |language=en}} Later, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters disclosed that more than 100s of people had been arrested in search of the perpetrators.{{Cite web |last=Maureen |first=Okpe |date=13 June 2024 |title=Abia: Over 100 suspects arrested following killing of soldiers — Army |url=https://allnews.ng/news/abia-over-100-suspects-arrested-following-killing-of-soldiers-army |website=All News}}
Investigations
On 6 June 2024, the House of Representatives ordered the Nigerian Armed Forces to conduct a thorough investigation into the killings to identify the gunmen.{{Cite news |date=6 June 2024 |title=Aba killings: Reps order probe as Army dismisses claims of reprisals in South-East |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/06/aba-killings-reps-order-probe-as-army-dismisses-claims-of-reprisals-in-south-east/ |work=Vanguard News}}{{Cite news |date=6 June 2024 |title=Aba Killing: House Of Representatives Orders Probe |url=https://www.channelstv.com/2024/06/06/aba-killing-house-of-representatives-order-probe/ |work=Channels Television}} Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, urged the Army not to punish innocent people during their investigations.{{Cite news |last= |date=2024-06-07 |title=Abia killing: Do not punish innocent persons, Otti urges Nigerian Army |url=https://businessday.ng/news/article/abia-killing-do-not-punish-innocent-persons-otti-urges-nigerian-army/ |access-date=2024-06-07 |work=Businessday NG |language=en-US}}
On June 7, the Government of Abia State said credible information was already coming in, revealing the perpetrators of the incident.{{Cite web |title=Aba Killing: We've Started Getting Very Credible Information, Says Otti |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/06/07/aba-killing-weve-started-getting-very-credible-information-says-otti/ |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=www.thisdaylive.com}}
References
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Category:2024 murders in Nigeria
Category:Attacks in Nigeria in 2024
Category:Mass shootings in Nigeria
Category:Insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria
Category:2024 mass shootings in Africa
Category:Arson attacks on vehicles in Africa