From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has commended its vigilantes, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), for protecting the entire South East from herdsmen attacks since its creation.
A statement by the spokesperson of the group, Emma Powerful, noted that the ESN has lived up to its duties of stopping the Fulani herdsmen from attacking farmers in the Southeast.
He said: “The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and our Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu, wish to commend our gallant volunteers of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) for their dedication in the protection of Biafra land against the marauding Fulani herdsmen as they celebrate their third year anniversary.
“ESN operatives have done absolutely well in protecting our farmlands against the terrorists from the Sahel who were ravaging Biafra forests and bushes. Since the launch of the Eastern Security Network on December 12, 2020, our farm has been reclaimed by the indigenous peoples.
“At last, our mothers, sisters and wives can go to the farm without being raped or butchered. Also, our brothers and fathers can go to farms without being butchered by marauding herdsmen. Unlike before, many Biafran farmers are happy because they can now plant and harvest without Fulani herdsmen destroying their crops or harassing and killing them in the process.”
Powerful urged the ESN to ensure compliance with directives of ensuring safer areas in the Southeast. Some of the directives to the ESN, according to him, are to ensure “the Fulani herdsmen and their Miyetti Allah sponsors parading around Abia, Akwa Ibom and Igweocha, Anambra, Delta, Enugu, and Ebonyi axes especially at the Lokpanta area must be stopped.”
He continued: “The crimes of these Fulani herdsmen and bandits parading in Biafra land have taken a new dimension. They are now involved in highway robbery and kidnapping.
“Most of the highway robbery and kidnap along Enugu-Umuahia-Aba-Port Harcourt expressway were carried out by the Fulani bandits. Lokpanta Cattle Market is the main hideout of the Fulani bandits. ESN shall execute the necessary plans to make sure the Fulani herdsmen robbery and kidnap on those axes are dislodged completely.
“This warning goes to the Anambra Vigilance Group (AVG), who have left their primary responsibility of securing Anambra State and taken to crime and illegal abduction and murdering of IPOB members. If you do not stop your murderous actions, we will have no choice but to confront you. The illegal abduction of suspected Biafran sympathisers and IPOB members within Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Igweocha and other places since the abduction of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu can no longer be overlooked.
“We demand the immediate release of all the IPOB members illegally abducted in all Biafra Provinces. If any state governor has a case against the arrested people, they should have them arraigned before the court as soon as possible. We shall no longer tolerate illegal abduction and indefinite detention of unarmed IPOB members and supporters. Those arrested in Biafra land and taken to the Sharia Northern Nigeria detention centres and tortured must be brought back to the states they were arrested.
“All political thugs and illegal security outfits formed to go after Biafrans must be disbanded with immediate effect. Ebubeagu militia in Imo State must be disbanded now. ESN shall extend their operations against all the criminals who have turned our land into all kinds of evil and have performed abominable activities. It’s going to be an eye for an eye very soon.