A fierce gun battle is currently ongoing between the Nigerian Army and unknown gunmen in Mbata, Umuchima Village, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State. According to reports, the Nigerian Army deployed over 15 Hillux and armored vehicles to Umuchima village as early as 6 am to attack the unknown gunmen who have been camping in the village ¹.
The unknown gunmen have been operating around the river demarcating Abia State and Mbaise in IMO State. The soldiers have taken over the junctions leading to and from the village, while many of them are facing off against the unknown gunmen in the bush. As of the time of filing this report, sounds of gunfire are still being heard in the area.
This development comes after a series of attacks by unknown gunmen in the region. In a recent incident, unknown gunmen killed four policemen in Oraifite, Anambra State, and snatched their rifles ². There have been reports of similar attacks in other parts of the region, leading to concerns about the growing insecurity in the area.
The Abia State Government has condemned the attacks and vowed to take decisive action against the perpetrators. Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, accused disgruntled elements unhappy with the level of development driven by the Alex Otti-led administration of masterminding the occasional attacks on security operatives in Aba ².
The government has given a marching order for the perpetrators to be brought to justice, vowing that no part of the state will be a breeding ground for criminals. "The State Government has zero tolerance for criminal activities, and will not allow anybody to destroy the modest gains of the Otti-led administration," Prince Kanu vowed ².
As the situation continues to unfold, residents of the area are advised to stay indoors and avoid any areas where the gunfire is coming from. The Nigerian Army has assured citizens that they are doing everything possible to bring the situation under control.
We will continue to provide updates on this developing story as more information becomes available.
*Related Stories:*
- _Unknown Gunmen Killed in Aba_ ²
- _Gunmen Kill Four Policemen in Oraifite, Anambra_ ²
- _Abia State Government Condemns Attacks on Security Operatives_ ²