Abia village in fear as gunmen kill suspected Army informant

Tensions have soared in Umuchima, a village in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, after unknown gunmen allegedly killed a local resident accused of informing the Nigerian Army about their activities.

Earlier in the week, operatives of the Nigerian Army’s Joint Task Force, under the South-East Operation “Udo Ka,” dismantled a suspected gunmen’s camp in the area. However, the gunmen struck back, targeting the alleged informant.

The attack has triggered panic, prompting many villagers to flee to nearby communities, taking only essential belongings. A resident expressed fear, saying, “They stormed the village in a commando-style operation and killed someone they accused of being an informant.”

This incident follows a recent clash between gunmen and troops from the Army’s 14 Brigade, Ohafia, in the same area. The Army reportedly mobilized over 15 Hilux vehicles and armored carriers, focusing on camps near a river bordering Abia and the Mbaise region in Imo State.

The Abia State Government, in collaboration with security agencies, has reiterated its commitment to rooting out criminal elements responsible for violence in the region. These groups have been linked to the killings of several security personnel in recent months.

Agbenu James