At least four persons, including a soldier and a businesswoman, were killed on Wednesday, August 17, when unknown gunmen engaged soldiers in a gun battle in Abia State.
It was gathered that the unfortunate incident occurred on Wednesday, August 17, in Ebem Ohafia LGA of the state.
The Nation reports that the yet-to-be identified soldier, who was serving at 14 Brigade Headquarters, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Barracks, Ohafia was killed when soldiers were responding to a distress call from one of their colleagues who escaped from being killed in Ebem community.
It was learnt the deceased soldier was apparently in the community for an errand before he was killed by gunmen who trailed him to the community.
Meanwhile, a businesswoman identified as Miss Chinenye Ajunwa from Amuta in Isuikwuato LGA resident in Ohafia was hit by stray bullet during the gun duel.
According to a source, the rescued soldier had gone to Ebem market in a commercial motorcycle to buy groceries when he noticed that he was being trailed by some armed group of boys.
“He heard when the gunmen were asking about a soldier that Okada just brought and quickly hide somewhere and from his hideout, he sent an SOS message to the Brigade.
Soldiers were mobilized for his rescue and the gunmen who are members Eastern Security Network (ESN) engaged the soldiers. Two of them were killed. A pump action gun, cutlasses and two motorbikes belonging to the gunmen were recovered from them.
It was while the soldiers were on patrol in the community, after rescuing the other soldier, that they discovered that the gunmen had killed a soldier in the same community,” the source said.