Imo State Government has defended the ongoing joint military and police operation in Orlu Local Government Area of the state.
It said it is aimed at clearing camps allegedly built by members of Eastern Security Network of Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB).
Briefing journalists on Friday in Owerri, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Cyprian Akaolisa, said the state government invited the military to help intervene and end the criminal activities being perpetrated by suspected members of the eastern security network.
The Attorney general accused the group of being responsible for all the criminal activities and killing of innocent citizens and security operatives between October 2020 and January 2021 in Orlu and Orsu local government areas of the state.
He said intelligence reports revealed that IPOB planned to attack Orlu people and the government under the pretext of looking for Fulani herdsmen.
Akaolisa stated;
The attacks on police stations and killing of policemen during #EndSARS were carried out by IPOB and not protesting youths for the sole purpose of hijacking and stealing weapons.
They are now using those arms to destroy Orlu. They killed 10 policemen, a prominent Orlu son, Ignatius Obiezu, and one Emmanuel Okeke and collected their Hilux vehicles.
He stressed;
The IPOB also shot and killed four Moslems doing their business in Orlu. IPOB said they were looking for herdsmen, but these victims they killed before the crisis.
Were they herdsmen? We heard Nnamdi Kanu celebrating the activities of his men in Orlu that they are doing well by killing innocent citizens. There are no Fulani herdsmen in Orlu.
The group is being accused of being behind the recent violence that resulted in the death of some residents and security operatives in the state.
This according, to him necessitated the invitation of the military before it gets out of hand.
He however, debunked rumours that innocent citizens are being harassed by security operatives in the ongoing operation.
Read Also: Nigerian Military Accused Of Carrying Out Air Strikes In Orlu, Imo (Videos)
It would be recalled that residents of Orlu on February 18 accused the military of conduction airstrikes in the community.
Videos of the alleged operation surfaced on the internet, sparking widespread outrage from many Nigerians who called on the Federal Government to intervene.
Back in January also, ESN operatives had a bloody clash with Nigerian Army from Obinze barracks, where four soldiers were reportedly killed.
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