Early Wednesday morning, gunmen ambushed a military checkpoint in Ekenobizi, a border town straddling Abia and Imo states within the Umuopara community, Umuahia South Local Government Area. The attack led to the tragic death of two Nigerian soldiers, highlighting ongoing security challenges in the region.
According to a military source who requested anonymity, the attack took place around 6:18 a.m. The assailants reportedly arrived in a white Lexus vehicle, though the exact number of gunmen involved has not been confirmed.
Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA later confirmed the details in a press statement.
“In the early hours of today, 13 November 2024, troops of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA, deployed at a checkpoint along the Umuahia – Owerri Road in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, came under attack by the irredentist group Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network,” he stated.
During the intense confrontation, soldiers reportedly forced the attackers to retreat, who abandoned two vehicles—a Sienna and a Lexus Jeep—at the scene while fleeing with gunshot wounds. Despite their defense efforts, two soldiers lost their lives in the exchange.
The Joint Task Force has since urged local residents, especially those in Abia State, to provide any credible information that could assist in locating the attackers. Additionally, they reassured the public of their commitment to safeguarding lives and property throughout the South East region.
