Tension In Abia Community As Gunmen Currently Exchange Fire With Nigerian Army Troops

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 14 Brigade in Ohafia, Abia State are currently in a gun battle with gunmen.

It was gathered that the gun duel is taking place in Mbata, Umuchima village in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state.

As the tension heightened, more than 15 Hilux vehicles and armoured personnel carriers reportedly arrived at the village around 6am, in a military reinforcement against the gunmen.

The gunmen are said to have been camped near a river at the boundary between Abia and the Mbaise area of Imo State.

The soldiers are said to have secured key junctions leading to and from the village, while other units continue to engage the gunmen in the surrounding bush. 

However, the gunfire is still ongoing, while there are no official statements issued by either the Nigerian Army or the Abia State Government at the time of reporting.

Only last Wednesday, SaharaReporters had reported that some yet-to-be-identified gunmen killed some policemen in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State. 

It had been reported that the incident happened at about 7:30am on Wednesday according to multiple sources. 

However, the Abia State Police Command's wireless message which SaharaReporters obtained, had named the identities of the officers involved.

According to the message, ASP Etet Ubokulo was unfortunately killed during the attack which the statement said were carried by six young men while two other operatives, namely ASP Etim Obungha and CPL Chukwuma escaped.