The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has finally revealed the ‘Deputy Commanders’ of the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Recall that the Nigerian Army had announced the successful capture of one Awurum Eze, who is reportedly an IPOB second-in-command and ESN leader.
According to a statement on Wednesday by the spokesman for the Nigerian Army, Mohammed Yerima, the IPOB commander was arrested by security operatives in Aba, Abia State.
Yerima said Eze is understood to be the only one apart from the late Ikonso who has a direct line of communication with Kanu.
“The 48-year old, a native of Umoneke Nta, Isiala-Mbano LGA, Imo State, had on the 4th of May 2021 escaped when operatives of Intelligence Response Team, IRT, stormed his village house in Isiala Mbano where he was hiding.”
“Intensive manhunt was thereafter launched towards tracing and arresting him. He was eventually apprehended on Wednesday, 12 May 2021, in Aba after weeks of unrelenting follow-ups by operatives.”
“Mr Eze is one of the main sponsors of the numerous killings in Imo State and has been on the wanted list of security agents for more than 3 months.”
“Many of the arrested IPOB /ESN terrorists had earlier mentioned him as their key sponsor, mastermind and Second in Command to late Ikonso.”
“According to them, amongst all their leaders in Imo State, only Ikonso and Awurum have direct communication link with Nnamdi Kanu.”
“He can be seen in several photographs posing with the fugitive terrorist leader, Nnamdi Kanu.”
“Investigation by the combined team of security operatives continues.” Yerima said.
Reacting to the development, Kanu said that the Governors of Ebonyi and Enugu states, Dave Umahi and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi are ‘ESN Deputy Commanders’.
In a tweet via his Twitter handle on Thursday, the IPOB leader noted that Eze was not a member of the group, adding that he is too old to be part of ESN.
Kanu, however, berated the army for using a picture of him and Eze to justify the arrest.
He tweeted; “Since standing beside or taking a photo with me makes you an #ESN “deputy commander”, perhaps the very preeminent & foremost constitutional lawyer, Prof. Nwabueze, @DaveUmahi, & Gov. Ugwuanyi are all #ESN deputy commanders.
“@HQNigerianArmy exhibiting their usual idiocy. #ZOO”
Since standing beside or taking a photo with me makes you an #ESN “deputy commander”, perhaps the very preeminent & foremost constitutional lawyer, Prof. Nwabueze, @DaveUmahi, & Gov. Ugwuanyi are all #ESN deputy commanders.@HQNigerianArmy exhibiting their usual idiocy. #ZOO pic.twitter.com/YJFpmHu9M9
— Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (@MaziNnamdiKanu) May 13, 2021
Meanwhile, details have emerged on the meeting President Muhammadu Buhari held on Tuesday with service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Military sources have revealed that Buhari told security chiefs to adopt certain security measures in the South-East and the South-South geopolitical zones of the country.
According to the sources, what Buhari ordered the service chiefs and IGP to do were no “extraordinary measures” but regular operational procedures to check the growing violence.
“The police and military have been recording casualties in the South-East during raids and gun battles with the criminals disturbing the region. Therefore, the focus would shift more to air power in the coming weeks. Combat helicopters and other aircraft would be deployed to conduct massive raids on the hideouts from the air. It does not matter whether the hideouts are for the Indigenous People of Biafra or its armed outfit, what the military is looking for are criminals,” the source told SaharaReporters.