The army and the police on one hand, and the ESN on the other, had had confrontations on a number of occasions but the closest before the January 25 violence was a military operation against the separatists at the end of the previous week.
According to a police record reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES, the police had suffered losses at least three times between December 24, 2020 and January 5. The police’s own record shows how weak the force had been in responding to ESN threats, resulting in yielding the ground to the army to lead.
“A gun duel ensued and police retreated. But they killed a policeman and seized two rifles and two vehicles, one of which they burnt. Other factors, according to observers, such as the Buhari administration’s perceived bias in handling the troubles associated with herders – mostly of the same Fulani ethnicity as Mr Buhari – contesting for space with farmers, and deepening socio-economic hardship may have also helped Mr Kanu, known for his fiery commentaries and conspiracy theories.
“We perceive their violent activities,” said Aloysius, an Orlu resident, who asked for his full name not to be used in this report over concern of being attacked by IPOB loyalists, referring to IPOB-ESN and highlighting their “strikes” targeting police and civilians. “But our people are crying over the menace of the Fulani herdsmen and the South-east has been politically marginalised.”
“As has happened with Amotekun in the South-west and the various Hisbah forces in the North, the ESN in the little time they have been around have shown that they are badly trained and have no idea of what due process and rule of law mean. But the police spokesperson for Imo State, Ikeokwu Orlando, said, “it is a national issue. A not-so-full operation is ongoing and the army is leading.”IPOB’s lawyer, Mr Ejiofor, denied allegations that ESN had been involved in criminalities and said the military operation was in response to the ability of the ESN to check the herders.
“They are kept in the bush with weapons. Of course, their material needs would press them to go use the weapons to satisfy their needs. Who is feeding them, who is paying them and how are they getting their weapons, apart from those stolen from the police?”
God punish you
An insightful piece on the alleged excesses of ESN. If the claims are true, then it indicates a significant deviation of ESN's founding mandate portraying a worrying escalation of their activities The Fed Govt must exercise restraint and deploy non-forceful means to resolve this
Fulani publication
Follow us for latest legit news
You found a way of blaming Buhari for criminality of ipob.
Shameless buffoons, always and ever ready to please the government of the day, just for a few naira notes Nigeria media is ready to write garbage, gutter journalism
Gutter Media
TO THE IGBOS THAT CARES TO LISTEN. NNAMDI KANU IS DOING THE SOUTH EAST EVIL THAN GOOD. STILL WANT THIS TO SINK! HOPE YOU GUYS ARE SEEING HOW STRATEGIC THE KILLING OF SECURITY OFFICERS ARE TAKING PLACE IN THE EAST.
This is shameful. Nothing like that happened cause everyone knows it was the nigerian army that brought their airstrike to orlu which the Supreme Court governor confirmed. Liars !!!
One sided journalism
What a shameless and most coward propaganda against heavenly ordained ESN we are uncheckable God bless ohamadike mazi NNAMDI KANU the greatest man in Africa, they keep propagating lies upon lies ESN we move
You should Investigate Properly as this Report is Quack and nonsensical. What led to them Storming the Market.. This is absolute quack Journalism.
Thank you for reporting Nigeria govt and supreme Court governor side of the story and terming it special report. I am happy you did not mention 1 person of south/ east person killed by ESN. You did not even give a reason why they should attack hausa traders or you
Wait and see how this report will be ignored. But insurgency will teach everyone a good lesson.