Soldiers attached to the 144 Battalion, Asa, Ukwa West council, Abia State reportedly stormed Owaza community and began setting houses, shops on fire over the death of their colleagues.
Daily Report Nigeria gathered that gunmen had earlier killed two soldiers at a location between Owaza and Obibor communities and escaped with their rifles.
They were said to have also burnt the soldiers’ patrol van.
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According to sources, the clash was as a result of the ban on oil bunkering in Rivers State.
“We heard the problem with the soldiers had to do with the oil bunkering. The ban on oil bunkering in Rivers State has affected the oil thieves; they are not comfortable with the soldiers at the Owaza-Obibor road. They attacked the soldiers and killed two of them while others fled.
“It was in retaliation that the soldiers laid siege to Owaza and burnt houses in the community. After burning houses in Owaza, the soldiers took over Owaza and all the neighbouring areas of Obuzor Asa, Umudobia to Obehie, Uzuaku, Okohia to Owaza. The people of Owaza have been made to suffer because of what they don’t know,” the sources said.
The residents are said to have fled the area with some of them relocating to places like Obehie, Imo Gate, Ugwunago, even before the arrival of the rampaging soldiers.
The Public Relations Officer, 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Prince Omale, said he was yet to be briefed on the incident but a military official in the state said an investigation has commenced into the incident.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has convened a meeting of stakeholders from the Ukwa West LGA and urged parties to give peace a chance and allow the state government to resolve the matter.
Ikpeazu urged the stakeholders not to allow the situation to degenerate as the government continues to engage the Army authorities on the matter.
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