BREAKING; President Tinubu angry over killing of 5 Soldiers declares Sit-at-home agitations treasonable
President Bola Tinubu talked tough yesterday on the sit-at-home action in the South East, labeling it treasonable.
He warned that decisive sanctions now await violent non-state actors like the gunmen who killed five soldiers at the Obikabia Junction checkpoint in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State last Thursday.
The soldiers were attacked by people the Defence Headquarters said were members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) during the sit-at-home called by IPOB to mark this year’s Biafra Day.
President Tinubu directed security agencies to fish out the masterminds and executors of the killings as well as those calling for sit-at-home.
The President said the exercise of restraint by security forces in dealing with violent attacks on its personnel should not be mistaken for weakness, pointing out that the federal government would not hesitate to take appropriate action when the lives of its security officers and men are wantonly wasted.
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The President who put his thoughts on the constant abuse and attacks on state’s agents by the citizens they have sworn to protect, in a statement he personally authored last night, lamented the recent developments and expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and colleagues of the deceased, as well as the nation‘s security forces.
He said: “The slain soldiers were on peacekeeping duty in Aba, Abia State on Thursday when they were murdered, just two months after a similar tragic incident happened in Okuama in Delta State.
“These unwarranted barbaric and evil acts stand condemned and should never be condoned and tolerated in our country.
“I want to make it clear that the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the armed forces have the capacity to crush violent non-state actors, making our communities unsafe.
“I urge security agencies not only to 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.
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“The fact that the security forces are exercising necessary restraints should not be mistaken for weakness.
“We are working to build a peaceful and harmonious society, but nobody should be under any illusion that the government will not act appropriately when the lives of our officers and men are wantonly taken.
“While my condolences go to the families of the five slain soldiers, their colleagues and the leadership of our armed forces, I urge other men and women on peacekeeping duty not to be discouraged by the unfortunate incident in Aba.”
He noted that soldiers and policemen of the country have continued to make sacrifices for the safety of all Nigerians, adding that they do not deserve the sort of attacks on them in some recent isolated cases.
“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 fulfillment of their duty, while some have experienced the indignity of being manhandled by the people they protect.
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