Troops of the Nigerian Army have eliminated scores of Eastern Security Network, ESN, operatives in Abia and Imo states, as it moves to clear insurgents in the Southeast and halt the weekly sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
ESN is the militant wing of IBOP and it is believed to be responsible for the unending bloodbaths in the region, especially attacks on police and security operatives.
It was gathered that the military carried out a clearance operation targeting IPOB members in Ekeututu-Iheteunans Road in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo, as well as boundary communities in Isiala Ngwa LGA of Abia State as part of Operation Udo Ka.
During the operations, the troops faced off against suspected IPOB/ESN members, leading to the death of several members, according to military sources. Weapons, including pump-action guns, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), IED-making materials, and charms were recovered.
Photo: A convoy of military APCs around the Imo/Abia Boundary on Monday
The Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General O.O. Oluyede, who confirmed the operation, commended the troops for their gallantry and urged them to sustain their efforts in eliminating criminal elements from their hideouts.
Lt Gen Oluyede assured the peace-loving people of the Southeast to carry on with their daily activities without fear.
It would be recalled that NDN had earlier reported that heavy and sporadic gunshots rocked the locality as soldiers clashed with armed men suspected to be members of the Eastern Security Network.
Our reporter gathered that men of the 14 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Ohafia engaged in a sporadic exchange of gunfire with members of the gang in the Mbata area of Isiala Ngwa, Abia State
We later verified reports confirmed that the military stormed the areas in dozens of Toyota vans and some APCs (armoured personnel carriers) and deactivated ESN camps along their path. Our source said the military appeared armed and prepared for a long siege, ostensibly to dislodge the hoodlums and restore normalcy to the area.
Meanwhile, some persons in the region accused the military of invading the area without justifiable reasons, claiming that they shot sporadically without cause.
One Nweke Emenike John, in an X post on Monday evening, said, “Since the early hours of today, 25th November 2024, the HQ Nigerian Army invaded Umuchima/Ahiaba Ubi in Isiala Ngwa North and have been shooting sporadically and going house to house picking up every youths on sight.
However, our reporter recalled that unknown gunmen, as the ESN members are known, have been incessantly attacking and killing security operatives in Abia, including security aides of a prominent Federal Lawmaker in the state.
Similarly, armed hoodlums have imposed compulsory work-free days every Monday with movement restrictions for residents of the Southeast region in the last three years. Defaulters are killed and commercial vehicles are set ablaze, sometimes along with drivers and passengers
The move has crippled economic and social activities in the region, especially in Anambra and Abia, where markets are forcefully locked down during the illegal restriction.
