Abia: Otti awards scholarship to children of slain soldiers

Abia state Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has awarded scholarship to the children of the 5 soldiers who were killed during an attack at a checkpoint in Obikabia, Ogbor Hill, Aba.

The Governor also vowed to smoke out those that are connected with the killing of the 5 soldiers.

Gunmen had attacked the military checkpoint at the junction, killed 5 soldiers and burnt two patrol vans at the checkpoint.

Otti stated this when he paid a condolence visit to the headquarters of the 144 Battalion, Asa in Ukwa West council, to commiserate with the widows of the slain military personnel.

He said; “Let me start by sending out words of sympathy to the Nigerian Army, the Brigade Commander himself and most importantly the families of the five fallen heroes.

“It’s as if General Diya was with me at the last place that we went to where I had promised everybody that was listening to me that we will smoke out whoever is remotely connected to this killing, whoever they are, wherever they are, wherever they run to.”

He condemned the killing of the soldiers by those who want to destabilize the state.

He said; “We as a government will continue to condemn this dastardly act, a very irresponsible act committed by criminals who do not want any good for society.

“It’s very sad but then, it has happened and because it has happened, we will need to move on but we cannot move on without identifying those who are responsible.”

He pledged to work closely with all security agencies in the state to ensure that no stone is left unturned to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to book.

“We are going to work like we have always done with security agencies particularly the intelligence unit of the security agencies to ensure that we leave no stone unturned.”

Otti reiterated that his government has placed a N25 million bounty to anyone who can volunteer useful information that would lead to the arrest of the fleeing criminals.

To support the families of the slain soldiers, the Governor announced automatic scholarship for the deceased children  to the university level and promised that he will ensure that the scholarship is legalized by the state House of Assembly.

He explained that the legalization of the scholarship to the children of the dead soldiers is to ensure that successive governments continue to fund the scholarship.

Earlier, the Brigade commander, 14 Brigade Ohafia, Brigadier General Olusola Diya said they were not relenting in their efforts to apprehend the perpetrators of the criminal act, stressing that they have been gathering intelligence to bring whoever that is connected to the killing to book.

He disclosed that two vehicles belonging to the Army were burnt, weapons carted away while 5 personnel lost their lives during the attack.