Nigeria Military Aircraft Searching For IPOB Members Returns To Imo Causing Panic, Fear And Tension

Nigeria Military Aircraft searching For IPOB members returns to Imo community causing panic, fear and tension. Sahara Reporters obtained a video showing how one of the military aircraft flew past a village in Orsu. Military aircraft have returned to Orsu, Ihiteukwa communities in Imo State in a fresh search for members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and members of its militant arm, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), causing fresh tensions, fear and panic in the areas.

Sahara Reporters learnt that the Nigeria military aircraft frequent the communities on Sunday with residents and church members returning from services early and scampering to safety as the jets hovered above causing tensions, fear and panic in the community.

Sahara Reporters obtained a video showing how one of the military aircraft flew past a village in Orsu believably on a search for suspected IPOB and ESN members.

According to an eye witness; “this is happening for the third time within the past one week. Yesterday, our area was bombarded by military helicopters almost immediately after the people of the community ended their church services.

Some could not end their church services because of tension, fear and panic,” a reliable source and eye witness stated.

According to the eye witness; “Helicopters and armoured tanks threaten communities in Orsu and people cannot go about their normal business and livelihood in peace. Due to the panic, some schools send children home, some businesses have shut down abruptly and there is panic everywhere till this very moment,” another resident lamented.

In December 2020, the Nigerian military first deployed aircraft and soldiers to communities in the South-East region in search of IPOB and ESN members. Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had on 12th December 2020, launched the Eastern Security (ESN), saying the regional security outfit, just like the Amotekun in the South-West, would help to tackle Fulani herdsmen, crimes and criminal activities in the south east and south southern part of Nigeria.

Sahara Reporters had on May 2021 reported how the Nigerian Army drafted reinforcement troops from some of its formations fighting insurgency in Borno State to join the troops in the South-East region over the military’s clash with IPOB and ESN operatives.

Military sources had confirmed to our reliable source that the reinforcements were drawn from some battalions including the 231 Tank Battalion in Biu, Borno State, which is under the 3 Armoured Division, Jos, Plateau State.

President Muhammadu Buhari had also in May this year, held a meeting with the service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, telling them to adopt certain security measures in the South-East and the South-South geopolitical zones of the country.

Sahara Reporters had gathered that the police and the army operatives were still conducting intelligence operations in the South-East and South-South region. In the process of searching for IPOB members and ESN members in the south east, the Nigeria military, police and air force have killed so many innocent youths in the south east suspecting them to be members of IPOB and ESN operatives.