Fighters of the the proscribed Indegenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Eastern Securiry Network (ESN), a group controlled by Nnamdi Kanu on Monday enagaged Nigeria Soldiers in Orlu zone of Imo State.
The ESN gun duel with Soldiers led Tom scores dead and many injured. The situation has led to imposition of dusk to dawn curfew by the governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma.
In his State wide address, the governor said all the nine Local Governments in Orlu zone of the state has been curfewed in attempt to restore peace to the troubled zone.
Number of casualties on both sides couldn’t be ascertained as at the press time, but the governor in his address identified the militants as members of IPOB’s ESN who unleashed terror on innocent residents of Orlu in Imo State.
Though the cause of the clash was not clear, security agents have been directed to go after the members of ESN.
The LGAs affected by the curfew are Orlu, Orsu, Oru East, Oru West, Ideato North, Ideato South, Njaba, Isu, Nwangele and Nkwerre local government areas of Orlu zone.
The governor maintained that the militants were creating a situation to paint a picture of near break down of law and order in Orlu area, noting that government condemns in its entirety acts of extreme hooliganism and brigandage vowing that they wouldn’t go unpunished.
The governor advised the residents of the affected LGAs to abide by the curfew as anyone who violates it will be treated as a suspect.
Governor Uzodimma said that security agencies have been directed to carry out a 24-hour patrol and that law abiding citizens can go about their businesses without fear of molestation.
The governor further condoles with the families of the bereaved and assured them that those who committed the heinous crime against them and their loves ones will not go unpunished.
Nigerian troops have been looking out for the newly created members of Eastern Security Network since they announced their existence that they have been receiving training in a undisclosed forest in the South East.
