There is still uneasy calm in Umuopara-Ikenobizi axis and its adjoining communities in Umuahia South Council Area, Abia State, six days after suspected unknown gunmen, last week, attacked a military check-point close to Abia-Imo State boundary along Umuahia-Mbaise-Owerri Road, killing two soldiers.
 
A leader in Dikeukwu Autonomous Community, Ebele Chukwu, said that many members of the community were apprehensive, and still live in fears while those that fled the area are yet to return .
 
Some members of the area, who commented on the incident, said it would be wrong for the aggrieved military operatives to engage in a reprisal attack on the community, considering that the assailants are not indigenes.
 
Although the Commissioner of Police in the state, Danladi Isa, visited the community last Friday to assess the situation, there is still fear that the scenario would linger for a while.
 
According to a statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Maureen Chinaka, “the CP and his entourage conducted an operational patrol at the recently attacked military checkpoint in Umuokpara, where they met Lt. Imran Adamu Musa and his team on the ground.”
  
Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, in a condolence letter to the Acting Chief of Army Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, expressed sorrow on the unfortunate incident, describing it as “barbaric and unwarranted.” He assured the Army and the public that his administration remains committed to collaborating with security agencies to thoroughly investigate the latest attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.

MEANWHILE, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has condemned the attack on the motorcade of fellow House member, Ginger Onwusibe, in Abia State, which tragically claimed the life of a security aide.
 
His Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, stated that the incident occurred on Sunday night at Ubakala, Umuahia South Local Council, when unidentified gunmen ambushed the convoy.
  
Fortunately, Onwusibe, who represents Isiala Ngwa North and Isiala Ngwa South Federal Constituency of the state, was not in the vehicle. However, a policeman attached to him was killed in the attack.

FOLLOWING that increasing level of insecurity in the state, the Labour Party-led Abia State government and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are currently at loggerheads.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, has accused the opposition of being behind the rising insecurity in the state since May.
  
Ekeoma made the allegation in a statement issues, yesterday, in the state capital, Umuahia, saying: “The information is from a series of tip-off from patriotic citizens and reliable intelligence.
  
“The sole agenda is to cause disaffection and distract the government from its focus on the development of the state,” the statement explained in part. However, the PDP Publicity Secretary, Eric Ikwuagwu, in a statement, said it had taken notice of the allegation and rejected the same.