Orlu: 33 clerics, elders allegedly detained as Army searches for ESN camps

At least nine pastors and 24 church elders have been arrested by soldiers in search of the camps of the personnel of Eastern Security Network (ESN) owned by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in some parts of Orlu Senatorial District.

The church leaders, The Nation learnt, were arrested following the raids that started in January in Orlu communities, especially Njaba, Orsu and Oru East council areas.

While peace seemed to have been restored early February, the military in conjunction with the Intelligence Response Team of the police, stormed the areas last weekend.

Some of those arrested were Presiding Priest of Our Lord’s Sabbath in Umunam Atta Community, Njaba LGA, Rev. Chigozie Nwaka as well as a number of other clerics and church elders in Ubokoro Atta, Okporo, Okwudor.

It was gathered before the latest raid, soldiers invaded some churches, including House of Prayer International Covenant Church Okporo Orlu and arrested over 20 members of the church, including clerics.

However, spokesman of the Imo Police Command, Orlando Ikeokwu, told The Nation he was not aware of the arrest and detention of any church member in connection with the Orlu crisis.

But the ongoing military operation in search of the camps of the personnel of the ESN has created panic in Orlu, Njaba and Orsu Local Government Areas.

Our correspondent learnt there has been heavy presence of the military in the communities since last Friday.

Army spokesperson of the 34 artillery Brigade, Obinze, Owerri, Babatunde Zubairu, who confirmed the operation, said the locals were not being harassed.


He confirmed the deployment of helicopters and other military gadgets in the operations, adding the operation was an offshoot of military intelligence.

An indigene of Umunam Atta Community in Njaba council area, Andrew Ibe, said: “The truth of the matter is that the soldiers are not beating anyone.

“But our concern here is that there may be shooting any moment since their helicopter is hovering over our houses.

“Again, they arrested one of our respected indigenes, who is a priest in the Sabbath Church here. Since Saturday, when he was arrested, nobody has told us why that is so”.

An indigene of Uda Orsuihiteukwa in the Orsu LGA told our correspondent that though no indigene was shot by the military the operation was causing serious panic in the area.

He said “Situation now calm in Udah, Orsuihiteukwa. Military helicopters have left my area a while ago after the surveilance mission. All security Hilux vans have left Udah community for their respective bases.

“Civilians were not in any way harassed in the exercise. No casualties. The invasion may have been warranted by intelligence reports.

“The leaders and office bearers from Orlu zone should address this security instability in our zone now. This is not healthy for the progress and advancement of the biggest Senatorial Zone in Nigeria.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/orlu-33-clerics-elders-allegedly-detained-as-army-searches-for-esn-camps/amp/


Mynd44

It shall never be well with buhari

is it war against Christianity? sooner or later we wey be Hitler incarnates will soon join the struggle and by that time Devil may cry!

Ion think this country can get any better without a War. and when that happens I see a Bloody one very bloody and myself is also Ready

Noted

And Jubril

how many sunni Muslim clerics have been arrested due to book haram? NONE

Hehehehehehe

Abi I should just run away.

misplaced priority...why not go and confront bandits or boko Haram

ok

The story is not adding up.

Why exactly did the military arrested the clerics?

Omo Nigerian army don dey craze o.

Why are they invading the SE when they can channel the same energy to the hotspots where bandits and herdsmen are wreaking havoc?

By the way, why is Peter Obi not speaking up?

Following

Easterners can never be subjugated

Running back to a soft target?

Can any soldier dare arrest a northern Imam or alfa even in war torn Borno state in the name of investigation ? He dare not try it but look at whats happening in the SE and yet the governors are quiet, national assembly members are quiet even CAN is quiet like the pussycat they suddenly became after change of leadership in 2015. I laugh at this country

and boko haram bandits are walking about with sophisticated weapons


Ewu na-apka n'uko, akwa oma n'uko na-etigbu ewu

buhari HAS NO RIGHT TO START A WAR AGAINST IGBO ON GROUND OF HATRED AND RELIGIOUS CLEANSING!! NO RIGHT!!

THE ESN has all right to be a self-defense force when a Islamic terrorist is in power

Abaribe,Peter Obi, Orji Uzor Kalu, Ekweremadu, onu and ngige are bastards for not speaking up against the ordeal their people face. Buhari has don tie rope for their blokos, con dey drag them with it.

Efulefu useless leaders

They've sold the South East to the caliphate. SLAVES

Badadvisor:
It shall never be well with buhari

Where's Peter Obi, OUK, Abaribe to speak up

Animal kingdom

Misplaced priority is disturbing them, there was an abduction yesterday and instead of them to go after the bandits, they're in orlu fooling around.

Ndị ara

If u think this fight Is between the South East and the FG, then u ve to think again coz how many Imams or Sheiks ve they arrested since the inception of this bokoharam and Fulani menace
Even the one that happened recently when sheik Gumi abi wetin be him name, went Inside the forest and negotiated with the terrorists
Now ask urself this, how was he able to locate their base? How was he able to come in contact with them? Why haven't FG arrested him and interrogated him?
Believe me, their is a huge crusade against the South and Christians as a whole currently going on in Nigeria.
More bullets to d Shakabular of our amiable ESN warriors

I'm afraid if ESN is overpowered Southern Nigeria is conquered because these bunch of poverty alleviation AMOTekun is as useless as dead cheetah



if the military could escort Fulani to harassed westerners on their soil then no southwesterners have the right not to rally round Southeast for the injustice, wickedness and biasness of these useless NA

Badadvisor:
It shall never be well with buhari

Love your enemies and bless those who curse you and pray for those who despitefully use you. LUKE 6 :28
Remember that you shall be judged by every idle word you speak. Matthew 12 :36
You'll do well to receive Jesus into your life. Tomorrow may be too late. John 3 :16

ThatFairGuy1:
Abaribe,Peter Obi, Orji Uzor Kalu, Ekweremadu, onu and ngige are bastards for not speaking up against the ordeal their people face. Buhari has don tie rope for their blokos, con dey drag them with it.

Efulefu useless leaders

They've sold the South East to the caliphate. SLAVES

COMING FROM ISHAQ AKINTOLA SECOND IN COMMAND

can we see this similar invasion. in Sambisa forest. 11 years In war , no effective invasion

ThatFairGuy1:
Abaribe,Peter Obi, Orji Uzor Kalu, Ekweremadu, onu and ngige are bastards for not speaking up against the ordeal their people face. Buhari has don tie rope for their blokos, con dey drag them with it.

Efulefu useless leaders

They've sold the South East to the caliphate. SLAVES

the government are doing their evil in Orlu while you are here on nairaland doing dirty job for them.

Factshunter:
Orlu: 33 clerics, elders allegedly detained as Army searches for ESN camps




https://thenationonlineng.net/orlu-33-clerics-elders-allegedly-detained-as-army-searches-for-esn-camps/amp/


Mynd44

meanwhile cheik Gumi was busy taking pictures with Fulani bandit's.
The level of Double standard in this Nation is nothing to write home about.