Three soldiers of 14 Brigade Headquarters of the Nigerian Army, Ohafia, attached to the 144 Battalion have been feared killed in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State.
The soldiers were killed at the army outpost located on the popular Obikabia junction off Umuola in Aba North local government area.
The masked gunmen, who came in a black coloured SUV, took the soldiers unawares.
’
It was gathered that the gunmen also made away with guns belonging to the soldiers.
They razed their patrol van and the outpost ablaze before leaving.
As of the time of filing the report, military aircraft was sighted hovering around the city centre.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has described recent attacks on soldiers by civilians as “self sabotage” by same people they sworn to protect.
It also described as worrisome the activities of civilians whose support is necessary for the military to rid the country of adversaries but turn around to attack soldiers.
The DHQ reiterated the need for both parties to unite and eliminate common enemies for the interest of the nation.
The Military High Command spoke through the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, at a briefing at the Defence Headquarters Abuja, on Thursday May 30.
He said: “The people want us to win the win the war against terrorists and bandiat, and to win the war it is the military that the civilians need. We are the one that is out there fighting the battle, and we need the supper of the civilians to win this battle. So, we need each other.
“What happens in Banex plaza in Abuja is not the way to go. Jungle justice is not the way to go. It is not the way to go for the civilians, especially since the soldiers are putting their lives on the line for civilians. They deserve that respect.
“ However, our soldiers are humans and as human being they make mistakes or err. So when they err please report them and the military justice system will take care or it.
“We need the morales of our soldiers to be at it maximum for them to fight. We need their fighting spirit. We have been fighting terrorism war for more than 10 years.There are soldiers that suffer post traumatic disorder. So please let common sense prevail. If our troops ere please report them.
“The military, like other security forces, maintains esprit-de-corp, and when the junior ones are being attacked, like what happened in Banex plaza, we have to calm them down, so that things do not deteriorate.”