By Sahara Reporters, New York Some residents of Orlu communities in Imo State have accused soldiers of the Nigerian Army of killing ...
By Sahara Reporters,
New York
Some residents of Orlu communities in Imo State have accused
soldiers of the Nigerian Army of killing 'innocent' people.
The residents disclosed this in a survey conducted by
SaharaReporters.
Many people have been reportedly killed in the community
following a clash between Nigerian army operatives and the Indigenous People of
Biafra (IPOB) security outfit, Eastern Security Network (ESN), on January 25.
Videos seen by SaharaReporters during the week showed
helicopters hovering around the town in search of the camps occupied by the ESN
personnel.
A spokesperson for the Nigerian army 34 artillery Brigade,
Obinze, Owerri, Babatunde Zubairu, who confirmed the operation, said the locals
were not being harassed.
The army spokesperson said that the operation was an
offshoot of military intelligence.
Kanu, leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, had
launched the ESN on December 12, 2020, saying the regional security outfit
would help to tackle just like Amotekun in the South-West crimes and
criminalities.
After the clash, Kanu accused Governor Hope Uzodinma of
working with the army to "flush out and attack ESN officers from the
bushes where they are operating."
On Friday, the Imo State Government said ESN operatives are
hoodlums and would be treated as murderers by the government.
The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice,
Cyprian Akaolisa, said, "The Imo state government invited the military to
flush out the hoodlums who call themselves ESN in Orlu."
According to Akaolisa, Kanu was endangering the people of
the state by the activities of ESN In the area.
Replying to a survey conducted by SaharaReporters, some
responders accused the military of killing innocent people. For fear of
victimisation, some of them didn't mention their names.
"The military is killing innocent people. They should
channel their aggression to the Fulani herdsmen and terrorist bandits,"
one of the responders claimed.
Another responder said, "It's so scary and full of
injustice. We now live in fear of the Nigeria army and attack from the armed
Fulani herdsmen.
"I cannot go back to my regular business of selling
local gari to feed myself and my three children. We are helpless and hungry. We
cannot call on the government because they're biased.
"The government has failed us. They protect their
relatives to the detriment of our lives. Do I still have confidence in this
government again? The government should negotiate with ESN as they do with
Fulani bandits."
One of the respondents said his friend was allegedly killed
by Nigerian soldiers.
"So badly, my gee named Onyebuchi don die, bullet touch
am. What's going on?? ESN is not a terrorist group. Since it was created, no
one has been raped, no bad news about them, yet the military is killing us,
using them (ESN) as an excuse. What's going on?" He asked.
"We live in fear; an old woman coming back from her
farm was killed. The ESN is not a threat to anyone; the military is. And all
the victims of the military assault so far are harmless civilians, not
ESN," another resident of the town said.
"There are reported cases of arrests and deaths, yet to
be ascertained by me. There is no crisis in Orlu. The Buhari regime is only
displaying a high-level cluelessness. They should return their interest to the
northern axis of terror because the ESN is only defending the eastern
territories from the ravages of the Fulani herdsmen whom this regime are
sponsoring," one of the residents said.
Another said he lost his business during the clash.
He said, "I lost my business. I must defend my
ancestral home if I am equipped to do it. Many people are currently in the
hospital, and many can't go to the hospital because they are afraid the army
could come to take them from the hospital. The Nigerian government can't do
anything because they are the ones instigating the crisis."
No comments