The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and founder of the Eastern Security Network, Nnamdi Kanu, has called on the members of the ESN to cease fire with the Nigerian military and return to the forests.

Kanu in a post on Wednesday evening noted that based on the intelligence available, the army and the police had withdrawn their operatives from Orlu in Imo State so the ESN should also therefore withdraw.

Since last Friday, Orlu has been embroiled in a crisis with residents, policemen and soldiers reportedly shot dead following a clash between the military and the ESN officials in some communities.

The soldiers could not arrest any of the ESN operatives who reportedly overpowered the army, because of their use of traditional powers.

The soldiers were said to have withdrawn with one of them being seen in a viral video rescued by some civilians and taken into a private firm for safety from the rampaging ESN operatives.

Witnesses reported sporadic shooting as residents took cover to avoid stray bullets.

Five persons, including a middle-aged woman, were said to have been killed by stray bullets from guns of the Nigerian Army while some properties were burnt. The soldiers were said to be drawn from the 34 Artillery Brigade in Obinze.

On Tuesday, some elder statesmen in Imo State also condemned the destruction of lives and property in Orlu due to the clash, while asking the government to restore law and order.

The stakeholders in a release demanded justice for those who were killed by the military, adding that the state governor, Hope Uzodinma, must show leadership at “this critical time”.

On Wednesday evening, IPOB leader, Kanu, stated that intelligence at his disposal stated that the military and the police had agreed to withdraw from the troubled areas.

He said, “Credible intelligence indicates that the army and police reinforcement deployed from Owerri have been ordered to withdraw from Orlu.

“For this reason, I hereby direct the officers and men of the Eastern Security Network to stand down, while remaining vigilant to any Fulani terrorist activity in Biafra land.”

SaharaReporters had reported that a combat aircraft of the Nigerian military paraded the tense Orlu communities on Tuesday and Wednesday in a bid to locate and engage ESN operatives, accused of killing soldiers and causing mayhem in the area.

The aircraft had caught the attention of the residents, who believed that the aircraft was sent to locate and engage the ESN operatives.

SaharaReporters had seen a video of the military aircraft hovering over the area on Tuesday.

“A helicopter has been deployed in Orlu. The military has been hovering over civilian homes. They should go to the forests and engage the ESN operatives. There is tension everywhere,” a resident, who did not wish to be identified, had said.

But Kanu noted that the ESN officials should withdraw, as the military and police had also agreed to withdraw their men.

AbijaJ:
OK. But why order them into the forest when they are chasing herdsmen from the same forest

mrvitalis:


All this double digit IQ people self

ESN mission is to make sure herdsmen are not in the bushes in south east .... anyone who is not a Dundee knows u need to be inside the bushes to achieve that

AbijaJ:


Nor vex. Na question I ask, I nor kee pesin. But I thought ESN had already succeded in chasing all herdsmen out of Igbo forests. If so, why then must they continue to dwell in the forests?

AbijaJ:


Nor vex. Na question I ask, I nor kee pesin. But I thought ESN had already succeded in chasing all herdsmen out of Igbo forests. If so, why then must they continue to dwell in the forests?

NiRfreak:
Hope he's not turning them to herdsmen cos na herdsmen dey live for forest

GeneralPula:
Emeka Akuma

Lord knows how many Emeka that are disguising as Fulani to kidnap in the forest..

I hope they catch those forest kidnappers soon. A lot of people are gonna be shocked !

TruthHurts1:
Watch and see how the hired liars who are working for the dullard on this forum will come and say this is a lie. But in any event I'm a firm believer in letting people suffer for the consequences of their stupid decisions. As long as herdsmen kidnapping and banditry keeps happening in the North, it is a welcome occurrence.

wink2015:
All this happening about fulani herdsmen and their activities including kidnapping, armed robbery etc is pointing at one thing - RESTRUCTURING.

A situation where one is made a slave over his own ancestral land is unacceptable.

Fulani herdsmen and their supporter at the federal level must be called to order.

NIGERIA MUST BE RESTRUCTURED for meaning development to take place.

Alternatively referendum should be conducted across the regions for state to determine their choice of existence.

Divinehealer:


After you comb the forest, who will comb the towns? Afterall she was taken by non Fulani from the city and sold to the forest dwellers.
Many non Fulanis are now collaborating with their Fulani brothers to make money out of selling their country men.
I keep saying it, If slave trade should return again, Africans esp Nigerians will still capture and sell each other all over again. Years later they will blame oyinbo slave master for using their fellow blacks as slaves.

Mgbadike80:
Nnamdi Kanu established the ESN to guard the forests and residents against this type of crime but the southeast governors/Ohanaeze are fighting him because they want to get a vice presidential position from the fulani in 2023.

valenu:
Influence and authority mixed with respect.