Fear gripped residents of Aba, Abia State, on Tuesday after two individuals were killed by armed, masked men in black shirts and trousers at Old Express, near Sameck junction, Aba North Local Government Area.
The assailants, wearing hoods, reportedly carried out the attack near a popular slaughter area, leaving one of the victims —a caretaker of a nearby house— and another unidentified person dead.
Witnesses revealed that the caretaker was shot in front of his residence, and his children later retrieved his body.
The second victim was left in a pool of blood by the attackers, who fled without claiming responsibility. The incident has left residents in fear, as the motive behind the killings remains unknown.
A source disclosed, “The hooded men shot at the helpless man in front of his residence and abandoned his corpse along with the other victim’s body.”
The attack comes amid heightened tension in Abia, as residents stayed away from their business premises for the second consecutive day in adherence to a sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The popular bus terminal at Milverton was devoid of its usual activity, with traders and transport operators complying with the directive.
In contrast, residents of Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, defied the sit-at-home order on Tuesday, resuming normal activities after observing the directive on Monday.
Businesses, including markets, shops, banks, and filling stations, reopened, and intra-state buses resumed services, loading passengers to various destinations within the state.
However, buses plying interstate routes remained grounded due to safety concerns.
A driver at one of the parks explained, “We were instructed by the management of the transport company not to load interstate passengers, as there are still fears about safety beyond the state borders.”
As investigations into the Aba killings continue, security forces have been urged to intensify efforts to ensure the safety of lives and property amidst the ongoing unrest in the region.
