Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, on Sunday, adopted the young widows and children of the five slain Nigerian soldiers at the 144 Battalion Asa, Ukwa West.
CrimesChroniclers had reported that suspected Eastern Security Network (ESN), the militant arm of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPoB), opened fire on the soldiers in Obikabia junction in the Aba LGA, killing the soldiers in the process.
The soldiers were killed on May 30 by the marauders who were reportedly enforcing the sit-at-home directive of IPOB.
Governor Otti was received on arrival by the commander of 14 Brigade Ohafia, Brigadier General O.O Diya.
He restated his commitment in fishing out the criminal elements who carried out the gruesome killings, just as he commiserated with the widows of the slain soldiers who were in attendance.
He assured the young widows that Abia State has fully adopted them and their children as bona fide citizens of the state, adding that the government would take over their overall upkeep.
Otti also pledged full scholarship for children of the slain soldiers up to university level, just as he gifted the widows a token for a start.
In a statement on Sunday, Kazie Uko, chief press secretary to the governor, said Otti visited the wives of the slain soldiers on Saturday at the headquarters of the 144 Infantry Battalion of the Nigeria Army in Asa, Ukwa West LGA of Abia.
“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,” the governor said.
“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.
“It’s as if General Diya was with me at the last place that we went to, where I had promised that we will smoke out whoever is remotely connected to this killing, whoever they are, wherever they are, wherever they run to.
“We are going to work like we have always done, closely with security agencies, particularly the intelligence unit of the security agencies, to ensure that we leave no stone unturned.
“So, I want to reassure the military high command and the leadership of the military in Abia that we are working together to ensure that we bring those people to book.
“The reason I came here (144 Battalion) today is to sympathise with you; to let you know that I feel your pain and I can understand what you’re going through at this time.
“On behalf of the government and people of Abia state, I want to assure you that we are behind you. We know that the military high command will also look after you, but because your husbands died here in Abia, we have adopted you as daughters of Abia and your children as children of Abia.”
CrimesChroniclers reports that one of the widows has five children for her slain husband.
Earlier, President Bola Tinubu has given a marching order to the Nigerian Army to go all out to fish out the deal with the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
