IPOB members, soldiers engage in bloody clash in Umuahia

- A clash at the popular Isi Gate area in Umuahia, the Abia state capital, forces business owners to abruptly close shops

- The reported clash began over a disagreement between soldiers at a checkpoint and a commercial tricycle operator

- A member of IPOB says the soldiers shot at and injured some people who had remained peaceful and were appealing to the soldiers to release the tricyclist

A reported clash between members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and some soldiers has thrown Umuahia, the Abia state capital, in a state of confusion.

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The Nation reports that the clash which occurred on Monday night, September 4 at the popular Isi Gate area shut down the city as business owners were forced to close their shops over fear of arrest or being caught up in the crisis.

Though details about what sparked the clash between the soldiers and the IPOB remains unclear, some sources claim the clash began after soldiers at a checkpoint around Isi Gate stopped a commercial tricycle operator and demanded that the driver should hand over to them the Biafra and IPOB insigma in his tricycle but the driver allegedly refused.

It was reported that the refusal of the driver to comply with the order escalated into a heated argument which attracted a crowd.

It was said that the soldiers on seeing that a crowd was gathering shot into the air to scare people, but that the crowd overpowered them and injured some of them in the process.

Another version of the incident claims that the refusal of a tricycle operator to give money to some soldiers stationed at Isi Gate who were extorting commercial tricycle operators sparked the crisis.

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It was reported that the soldiers slapped the commercial tricyclist for refusing to give them money and this situation degenerated into a fight when members of the union in solidarity with their member engaged the soldiers in a brawl.

Speaking on the incident, a member of IPOB who did not want his identity revealed, said the soldiers shot at and injured some of the people who had remained peaceful and were appealing to the soldiers to release the tricyclist to go about his business since they couldn’t find anything incriminating on him.

But the public relations officer of 14 Brigade Ohafia, Major Oyegoke Gbadamosi, denied that the soldiers fueled the crisis.

He alleged that the operational vehicle of the soldiers was damaged by the crowd and that some of the soldiers injured in the incident were in an undisclosed hospital where they are receiving medical attention.

Meanwhile, a member of IPOB, Somto Okonkwo, in a statement on Monday, September 4, said the clash between the soldiers erupted after a commercial tricycle operator refused to hand over Biafra and IPOB insigma in his tricycle to a soldier at a checkpoint.

The IPOB member said about two persons were killed by the soldiers while several others were arrested and sustained different degrees of injuries.

He said while the attack ensued, the soldiers were heard boasting that Buhari had given them order to shoot and kill all IPOB members including those who were in support of Biafra.

He dismissed the narrative that IPOB members instigated the crisis, adding that the Nigeria government should be held responsible for the violence that occurred.

In the video below; Legit.ng TV takes a critical look at Nnamdi Kanu and the struggle for the actualisation of the Republic of Biafra.

Source: Legit.ng