The commercial nerve of Abia State, Aba was yesterday turned to a battle ground as members of two pro-Biafra groups; Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) clashed while protesting the continued detention of their leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Reports have it that about 30 members of the two groups who sustained various degrees of gunshots wounds were being treated in different parts of the commercial city; while a total number of seven persons were reported dead.
It was also learnt that another person who was said to have been hit by a stray bullet died at a hospital within the city center where the victim was rushed for medical attention, but due to loss of blood and delay in getting medical attention, died in the hospital.
The trouble between protesters and security agencies forced commercial activities to a standstill as many shop owners in various markets and within the city center closed for business.
A 20-year-old apprentice who was identified as Chidozie Okafor, the only son of his parents and a native of Omuohu, in Eziagu local government council of Enugu State died immediately along St. Michael’s road about 1.pm after a stray bullet allegedly fired by a soldier hit him on his way back to his master’s shop at Pound road after having his lunch.
It was gathered that the pro-biafra groups who had forewarned Aba residents last week of today’s protest, after being dispersed by a combined team of security agencies at National High School along Port-Harcourt road; their usual point of takeoff in the morning, later regrouped around Asa and Park road.
Sources said that while the protesters had regrouped, security agencies that were on their trail attempted to disperse them, but met stiff resistance by the groups.
It was learnt that soldiers serving under 144 Battalion having seen that they were being overpowered by the protesters, started shooting sporadically in a bid to scare the crowd.
The incident however took another dimension when the live ammunition from the soldiers’ guns hit some of the protesters, while some members of the protesters were arrested in the process.
Checks within Aba reveal that security was beefed up around various military formations and police barracks in Aba and its environs.
