Soldiers kill four gunmen dressed in black enforcing sit-at-home order in Abia State

TROOPS of the 14 Brigade of the Nigerian Army based in the Abia State capital Aba have shot dead four armed gunmen suspected to be members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) responsible for enforcing sit-at-home orders.

Yesterday, the soldiers attached to the 144 Battalion of the 14 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, engaged the gunmen at about 2 pm yesterday at the Uratta area of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway. Apparently the gunmen, wearing black, suddenly marched through streets and markets forcing traders and residents to comply with a two-day sit-at-home order slated for Thursday and Friday.

They were said to have warned residents about the consequences of disobeying the order of the sit-at-home expected to be observed across the south-eastern states in protest against President Muhammadu Buhari's planned visit to Ebonyi State on Friday.​ One  source said that while the gunmen got to the Uratta junction, they were challenged by the soldiers, resulting in a gun duel, leading to four deaths, including that of their leader.

Some of the other gunmen sustained injuries and fled with them, while the military confirmed the recovery of charms and a life tortoise from the suspected leader of the group. Over the last two weeks, a group of organised hoodlums had been extorting money and items, robbing people and raping women in the area before the gunmen in black organised themselves and forced them off the streets.

Apparently, the hoodlums reported the men in black to the police and army who came yesterday along with the complainants that pointed out the gunmen. It has not yet been confirmed that the men were members of the ESN, the military wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra.