The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu on Sunday paid a condolence visit to the 144 Infantry Battalion Headquarters in Asa, Ukwa West Local Government Area of the Abia State over the recent killing of three soldiers by yet-to-be identified gunmen.
He appealed to the military to exercise restraint while combing the city and its environs in search of the perpetrators of the crime.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Levinus Nwabughiogu issued on Sunday night quoted Kalu as saying, “In a time when we are trying to see how to encourage the soldiers and the police who we believe need more for the sacrifice they make for this nation; at a time when we in parliament are struggling to see how we can better their lives, people are carrying guns. What a pain!
“Whatever made them do this, it’s a painful thing for this country. That is why all of us are rising boldly to condemn it, to condemn this act in its entirety.
“It has no justification especially when we have been begging with our Peace in South East Project. Since December 29, 2023, we’ve been pleading that we should no longer use kinetic ways to settle conflicts.
“We’ve been begging the security agencies. Enough of shooting, and they have respected our call. Even the Chief of Army Staff has gone around preaching non kinetic means to settling our conflicts. He has been going around. I watch him.
“And he has been selling this to the rank and file, saying, everything cannot be solved through guns. We can negotiate, we can talk, we can apply other skills. Not because they are weak, but because by their training, they are trying to employ a better approach to spill less blood.”
He warned of the dangers of provoking armed soldiers, saying, “If you allow the military to be angry in this State, none of us will be safe. If they get angry and say they want to retaliate, we will not be safe in this Abia State. And that is why we are still begging that a non kinetic approach is still what will work.
“We want to urge the military to please continue using your non kinetic means. Do not because of this provocation, go on rampage. But if there is any step to be taken to find those people, please do it. Do all you can because I know you can.
I know your military intelligence skills. I know the security agencies in this country can come together if not for anything, but this one. Find us those who did this and let it be made public.
“Let the military, the Navy, the Air Force, the Police, the DSS, all of you should come together, find these people who did it. I’m happy Mr. President stood up and spoke firmly against this because he is a lover of peace.”
The Deputy Speaker in conjunction with the Peace in the South East Initiative Project made a donation of N10 million to assist the wives of the slain soldiers.
“You are not alone. Weep no more. I know it is difficult but we are standing with you. That was why we decided to show you the first sign of love. We didn’t come empty handed.
“We said since the Governor came here and gave you a scholarship, we are going to open an account, a fund for all lovers of the work people are doing, to support the welfare of those who have lost their lives in the course of their duty.
“But in launching that fund, we are starting with M10m. We are giving you today the sum of N10m. We want at least each of them to get N2m to start a business on the side, not for school fees since the Governor has taken care of school fees. This is coming from the Peace In South East Project and the Office of the Deputy Speaker,” he said.
In his response, the Brigade Commander of the 114 Battalion, Brigadier O Diya who received the deputy speaker said efforts are already ongoing to apprehend the killers.
Diya said, “We can assure you, sir, that those that committed this, we will look for them. We will find them and we will smoke them out wherever they are.
“Efforts are already in place to ensure that we find them and make them pay for what they have done for making these women and children go through this pain, this irreparable pain. It’s very unfortunate.”