11 feared killed as soldiers, gunmen battle in Abia

There was palpable fear at Ariaria axis of Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia state as at least11 persons were reportedly killed in a gun duel between soldiers and gunmen on Tuesday night.

The attack on the army checkpoint is coming two days after three policemen were killed by unknown gunmen in Abiriba, Ohafia Local Government Area of the state.

The gunmen said to be numbering 50 stormed the popular Ariaria junction on the Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway at about 8:30 Tuesday night, ostensibly to attack soldiers stationed in the area.

Our correspondent gathered that before the gunmen could arrive at the scene, soldiers on duty acting on intelligence laid ambush for them.

While some reports have it that 16 persons were killed, among them two soldiers, a military source said 11 of the gunmen were killed while there was no causality on the side of the army.

A resident of the area who was on his way to a vigil told our correspondent that he was forced to cancel the trip after witnessing the fire power between the gunmen and soldiers.