The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has summoned a crucial meeting of critical stakeholders in the Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State to address the crisis raging in the Owaza Community of the State.
AbaCityBlog had reported that the major roads in the Obibor and Owaza communities were blocked by soldiers following the alleged killing of two of their men by unknown persons in the area on Tuesday.
Conflicting reports said, the soldiers attached to 144 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, in a reprisal attack over the death of their colleague, set shops and houses ablaze in the community.
Another reports quoted a community source to have said that, the situation became worse when a motorcycle carrying jerry-cans of fuel abandoned by the rider on sighting some soldiers, was allegedly shot at by soldiers, and the motorcycle and the jerry cans of fuel immediately went up in flames and engulfed nearby lock-up shops.
Reacting, Governor Ikpeazu, who has called for calm from all the parties involved in the crisis in the Owaza community, urged them to give peace a chance, and allow the State Government an opportunity to find a solution to the matter.
He expressed concerns regarding the ongoing reprisal attacks in Owaza by soldiers of the Nigerian Army, and called on the soldiers not to allow the situation to degenerate any further