The leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, boasted that the southeast is more secured under the group’s Eastern Security Network, ESN, than the federal government-funded security agencies in the country.
IPOB in a statement on Thursday, December 31, 2020, through its spokesman, Emma Powerful said that the recent disassociation of Southeasterners governors from the group was long expected and stated that their actions are of no significant consequence.
“We never expected the governors to support Eastern Security Network. The governors are part of our problem because of their selfish interests. They are the ones benefitting under the current one Nigeria slavery.
But the truth remains that their dissociation from the security outfit is of no significance or consequence. ESN is the people’s movement. It doesn’t revolve around any governor or misguided political criminal masquerading as an elite.
“ESN is formidable, and can effectively operate without the involvement of any governor.
“The security outfit will flourish without the support of the governors in our land. I don’t think we can trust them.
“IPOB is the largest mass movement on the face of the earth.”
The group while attributing the “prevailing peace” in the southeast within the ember months to the commitment of ESN personnel since its formation said “We do not operate in homes, cities or towns but in the bushes and forests where terrorists lurk to rape our mothers. After our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu inaugurated them on December 12, 2020, they have been active. Have you asked yourself what is responsible for the prevailing peace and security in the region this festive period despite the near absence of the corrupt Nigerian security agents on the road? This should be the first time in history when the crime rate is at its lowest ebb in the region without Police and Army on the roads. The people can attest to this.
“ESN Security operatives do not need sophisticated weapons to defend Biafran land against terrorists although such are readily available should the need arise. Killer herdsmen, kidnappers, and criminals who have been terrorizing our people understand that the game has changed for good. The will and determination of the people is all that is required.
“The morale of the men is very high, weapon or no weapon we are ready to die in defense of our ancestral lands. After all the Nigerian Army with its fabled sophisticated armoury are today capitulating before a rag-tag Boko Haram insurgent army and Fulani homemade bandits.
“I don’t consider it appropriate to give details of the size of our security outfit until the appointed time.
“But we have enough volunteers to effectively defend every community in Biafra territory against invaders. I can authoritatively assure you that the days of Fulani herdsmen slaughtering Biafrans at will or destroying their crops with impunity are over.
“Such a dastardly act is now a suicide mission! Our enemies understand this very clearly. Today ESN is ready to do that which the oppressive Nigerian government and our cowardly governors have failed to do.
“Willingness to die in defence of Biafraland against local and foreign terrorists. It is a volunteer force but it’s not like the absurdity that obtains in Nigeria security agencies. Many of our men are graduates, some relocated from North America, Asia, and Europe to be part of ESN. We have people of all stations and academic backgrounds. But what is paramount is that our men are highly trained and disciplined. We make sure they get the best of training required for the defense of the land of their ancestors according to internationally accepted standards and practice.
“We don’t intend to publicly disclose our operational secrets but terrorists are no match to what is already on the ground in Biafran land.
“We are always ahead of them and sponsors in Aso Rock. As I speak with you any movement by any of their so-called security agencies to look for or confront ESN will be identified before time and captured by our high-resolution CCTV cameras scattered across the width and length of Biafraland.”
Reiterating that the IPOB formed security network isn’t against the Nigeria Security agencies, Powerful said “ESN is not after Nigeria security agencies. ESN is not Biafran Army but a mere security outfit like Amotekun in the South West, and the Miyetti Allah National Security Network.
“The mandate of ESN is to protect Biafran land against terrorists, a responsibility which both the federal government and our governors have criminally failed to carry out. ESN is a child of necessity.
“So, why should any sane security personnel come to look for the trouble of ESN? Let the Nigerian security operatives not make the mistake of engaging ESN in any confrontation because it will be deadly for all including the politicians instigating them. Somalia, Yemen, and Syria are ready examples of government overreach.
“Those governors calling for the Nigerian army to engage ESN will be the first casualities, them and their families.
“The Army, Police, and DSS should face Boko Haram, ISWAP, and bandits terrorising the country.
“They should leave ESN alone to secure Biafra land against Invaders except they want to prove that the killings and rapes in our land have the approval of the government.
“If ESN is for security agents they know where to engage them. They are only after criminals and terrorists.
“Therefore, they don’t deserve any attack. If the security agents are not attacking Amotekun or the Miyetti Allah security network, why should they single out ESN for attack? The right to self defense is constitutional and inalienable.
“But should the federal government decide to go into confrontation with ESN, that will herald the end of civilisation as we know it in our part of the world.”
On their collaboration with other security outfits in other parts of the country, IPOB spokesman said of the nightmares of the Fulani dominated federal government of Nigeria today is the new unity, understanding, and cooperation between the South West and old Eastern region.
“The old narrative peddled to divide and subjugate our various peoples are fast changing. The present crop of youths in both regions including the Middle Belt is not like some of their more treacherous fathers.
“Again, don’t forget that Afenifere was the first front line socio-cultural group to support ESN even before Ohanaeze Ndigbo grudgingly offered theirs.
“southeast governors and their likes are wretched cowards in the pocket of the caliphate. Amotekun and ESN can and will perfectly collaborate if and when the need arises. They have a common agenda.
“Don’t forget that when Amotekun was formed and inaugurated our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu assured them that he was ready to send them 1million men to support them if they needed such help. We are working together to free our peoples from the British bondage called Nigeria criminally skewed to favour the Fulani hegemony which has since metamorphosed into terrorism and daylight banditry.”
