Despite the arrest of the Prime Minister of Biafra Republic Government In Exile (BRGIE), Simon Ekpa, by Finnish authorities sit-at-home in South East Nigeria has continued.
Also clashes between the Nigerian security agencies and militias groups linked to the agitation for the restoration of Independent State of Biafra continues across the five states of the region.
Monday sit-at-home which was initially called by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) one of the 29 pro-Biafra separatists as civil disobedience against the illegal incarceration of their leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by Nigerian authorities despite various courts judgements declaring his abduction otherwise known as extraordinary rendition from Kenya in June 2021.
Since then, economic and social activities have been paralyzed on Mondays despite the leadership of IPOB declaring an end to sit-at-home protest.
So many pro-Biafra groups including BRGIE led by Mazi Ekpa, who resides in Finland have continued to enforce the sit-at-home, insisting that until Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is released in compliance with various court orders and UN Human Rights Communications to Nigeria which have been implemented in breach, sit-at-home will not stop. They also accused IPOB members calling for an end to sit-at-home as sell out and saboteurs.
While some believed that with the arrest of Simon Ekpa would see the end to sit-at-home, it appears that sit-at-home has been encouraged with momentum as most cities in all the five states in the South East witnessed resurgence of sit-at-home on Monday.
Also gunmen attacks have continued with a fierce gun battle reported on Monday morning, between personnel of the Nigerian Army’s 14 Brigade, Ohafia, in Mbata, Umuchima village, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, Abia State.
According to reports, the military with over 15 Hilux vehicles and armoured personnel carriers invaded the village around 6 a.m., targeting what suspected gunmen reportedly camped near a river bordering Abia and the Mbaise axis of Imo State.
Like in many communities in the South East where military had invaded from Imo to Enugu, to Ebonyi and from Anambra to Abia, residents and properties belonging to locals are looted and burnt while several young people are disappeared.
Although, information from the Monday’s invasion of Mbata, Umuchima village are still sketchy, preliminary reports confirmed that soldiers had taken control of key junctions leading in and out of the area.
“The gunfire started early in the morning,” a resident shared, adding that many villagers fled their homes for safety as soldiers went from house to house searching for every male adult.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has confirmed that troops of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA have killed scores of members of ‘proscribed’ Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) and Easter Security Network (ESN) as it continued its operations in the South East region to quell agitation for Biafra restoration.
Our correspondent reports that an Enugu State High Court has nullified and declared illegal non and void the proscription of IPOB as a terrorist organisation in landmark judgement in 2022. The judgement has not been appealed against by Nigerian government, although the security agencies have used the 2017 proscription by President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime as pretest for their actions against separatists groups and agitation in the South East.
In a statement on Monday evening by Assistant Director, Army public Relations, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Eromosele Unuakhalu, the troops reportedly discovered IED Making Factory along the Imo River in Isiala-Ngwa North of Abia State.
He said the clearance operation took place in the early hours of today 25, Monday November 2024.
“During the operations, troops came in contact with the terrorists group who fled in disarray and abandoned their Camp due to superior fire power.
“Troops exploited the camp and recovered a Toyota Hilux, three motorcycles, a dane gun, one sword, three pairs of Nigeria Police camouflage uniform, one fragmental jacket, and radio chargers.
“Other items include two six kilograms of gas cylinders, three registered plate numbers, three ATM cards, driver’s license and food stuff, while the camp was destroyed immediately.
“In the same vein, yesterday Sunday 24 November 2024, troops neutralized four members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and it armed affiliate the Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) during a clearance operations in Umudi and Imuezeosuru Forest in Umuaku of Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
“Troops acting on credible information carried out the operations in the suspected area and neutralised 4 members of IPOB/ESN while others escaped with gunshot wounds.
“Items recovered from the camp include one motorcycle, sixteen live cartridges, twenty-nine rounds of 5.7mm ammunition with the magazine, one fragmental jacket, two metal plates for fragmental jackets, two long range shells, and two Baofeng radios.
“Others are one jack knife, two machetes, two pairs of Nigeria Police uniforms, Police identity cards, torch light, shovel, ATM cards, three mobile phones and two notebooks containing their minute of meeting. The camp was subsequently razed down.
“On the same day, troops also conducted clearance operations within Ekeututu, Ihiteukwa, Edenta, Awo-Idemili and Isseke communities in Orsumoghu Local Government Area of Imo State and Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State respectively.
“During the operation, troops came across multiple roadblocks and obstacles emplaced by the irredentists to deter troops’ movement.
“However, the gallant troops were able to clear the route of the obstacles and Improvised Explosive Devices that were destroyed immediately.
“The troops also came in contact and neutralized two members of the irredentist group while two female suspects were arrested.
“An IED production factory was also discovered with different IED making equipment. The IED Items recovered are three filing machines, one chainsaw, thirteen IED tubes and one sack containing gunpowder.
“Other items include, one IPOB patrol Hilux, one Toyota 4Runner Jeep belonging to the Eze of Awo-Idemili, two generator sets, one PKT chain with 10 rounds of ammunition and one locally made pistol.
“Similarly, on the 21 November 2024, troops conducted a clearance operations along Ekeututu, Ihitenansa, Amaruru, Assah Ubirielem, Ihioma, Umuhu-Ikabia, Amanachi, Amanukwo and Awo-Idemili communities in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State. During the operations, troops recovered ten gas cylinders used for making IEDs and four motorcycles with 2 IPOB/ESN members neutralized.
“Also, on 23 November 2024, troops deployed at Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo State arrested one suspected member of the irredentists group one Mr Nwosu Okwudiri aged 58 years at Nkworji of the same Local Government Area.
“Items recovered during the arrest include one Pump action rifle, one Dane gun, seven live cartridges, one empty case and Biafra currencies.
“The Force Commander Joint Task Force Major General Hassan Dada is calling on all well-meaning citizens to embrace peace and dialogue as a tool of maintaining peace and stability in the SouthEast region.
“Remember, security is everybody’s business. It’s not in the hands of security agencies alone. When you see something say something by calling the operation toll free line 193 and press Option 2 to speak directly to Headquarters Operation UDO KA.
“The Joint Task Force South East Operation UDOKA will continue to carry out all its assigned tasks in line with the laid down rules and regulations guiding its operations and in tandem with global best practices. When you see something, say something.”
It had been reported that gunmen attacked operatives of the Anambra State Vigilante Service on Monday and burnt their operational vehicle. The incident which happened along the Amesi-Uga Road in Aguata Local Government Area, Anambra State also send fears on the residents.
The Anambra State Police Spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a press statement, adding police operatives responded swiftly to the attack, rescuing the injured vigilante who was immediately taken to the hospital and is now receiving treatment.
According to Ikenga, the police secured the scene of the attack to prevent further criminal activity and ensure properties and goods were safeguarded.
Meanwhile, private and mission schools that had been operating on Mondays in Anambra State have suspended classes until further notice.
The Catholic Education Council in a directive said: “Due to certain security concerns, it has been considered that schools will not be held on Mondays till further notice.
“Pupils are advised to stay at home and resume on Tuesday 26th November. We’re sorry for any inconvenience.
“SSS3 students are, however, expected to be coming to school on Mondays and Saturdays for special lessons without uniform.
“We appreciate all those who have made sincere efforts to complete all their payments as we expected every well-meaning parent/guardian to have done before now. Please kindly inform others about this message”.
It was gathered that the latest directive followed an alleged threat by unknown people to attack school buses and schools that open on Mondays.
As usual, commercial activities did not take place in most parts of Anambra. At the Awka main market, traders hurriedly closed their shops when information went around that gunmen were going to attack the market for opening on Monday.
The Anambra Innovation Week, which began on Monday also witnessed a very low turnout as the participants who were expected to come from various parts of the state could not make it.
The state deputy governor, Dr. Onyekachi Ibezim, however, declared the week open and the expectation is that the full attendance would begin on Tuesday.
In Enugu State capital, Abakaliki and Owerri and other major cities in the southeast, witnessed low economic and social activities over fears.
