The leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has reacted to the clash between members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and Nigerian soldiers in Imo State on Monday.
Naija News had reported that an undisclosed number of people lost their lives and property destroyed following the clash between IPOB’s security outfit and soldiers in Orlu Local Government Area of the state.
Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma on Monday imposed a 6pm to 6am curfew in some affected Local Government Areas of the State following the breakout of violence.
Kanu, in a statement issued on Tuesday by IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, said the clash resulted in the injuring of several others and the death of five residents of Okporo community in Orlu.
The IPOB leader also accused the Imo state governor of working with the Army to attack and flush out ESN officers from the bushes where they are operating from.
He also condemned the 6pm-6am curfew declared by the governor, accusing Uzodinma of aligning with the military authorities to attack Igbos.
Kanu, however, said that the group will resist any attempt to clamp down on its members.
He said: “ESN personnel are in the bush and forest chasing…terrorists and herdsmen who are over there terrorising our members and sisters in their respective farms, not Nigeria security agencies but they are looking for ESN’s trouble.
“Since the formation and inauguration of ESN by our great leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on December 12, 2020, they have been inside the bushes and forests; their job is to protect farmers from invaders who made pronouncements that all lands in Nigeria belong to them.
“Every time, Nigerian Army and the police would come and look for their trouble in the bush.”