The volatile security situation in Imo State is rapidly getting more chaotic, as Biafra Liberation fighters under the command of Finland based agitator, Mr Simon Ekpa have continued to pound and dismantle several military formations in the state.
Despite repeated warning by NewsBand Newspaper over the growing influence of the separatist movement in the region, Nigerian army seems nonchalant in drawing a serious battle line against the hegemonic tendencies of the agitators.
Ekpa who has been on the wanted list of the federal government appears to be ahead of the Nigerian army as the group’s guerilla fighters keep launching vicious and successful attacks against personnel of the army.
NewsBand on the 1 of October, 2024 in a special report titled, “Nigerian army sleeps while Simon Ekpa’s guerilla fighters overrun South-East”, quoting sources reported how Barrister Ekpa and his collaborators in overseas have amassed weapons large enough to overrun the Nigerian security forces in the South-East.
The sources warned that the Nigerian government must take decisive action before things will completely go out of the radar.
“I can tell you that danger is lurking. Simon Ekpa and his collaborators in Europe and America have been able to amass weapons big enough to chase out security forces of Nigeria from Igbo land. The government must act now before things will get out of control”, one of the source told this paper.
This medium quoting another source in the report revealed how millions of dollars have been mapped out for recruitment of more guerrilla fighters and establishment of training camps.
Moreover, also note that in the month of September, 2024, Nigeria Open University in Ehime Mbano local government area of Imo State was razed by the fighters of Biafra Liberation Army.
The University was destroyed by BLA operatives after TVC news reported that some Internally Displaced Persons from the North will be trained at the facility for various skills by the federal government.
Videos of the attack was posted on the official X handle of Simon Ekpa who claim to be a politician in Finland.
According to Ekpa, such facility in Igbo land cannot be used to train what he described as Boko Haram members.
“Biafrans has rejected any training camp for Boko Haram in former Imo state, they made a video of with a low key message to the enablers, they called them brothers.
“The unity of Biafrans under Biafra government has been sending shock waves to the terrorist state and their enablers in Biafraland.
“Biafraland is not a place to train Boko Haram on skills acquisition”, Ekpa said in a post on his X handle last week.
Lastest Attack In Imo State As The Separatist Movement Wax Stronger.
It is now obvious that the Nigerian military has abandoned the South-East to their fate as Ekpa and his foot soldiers keeps unleashing their tactical venom.
On Tuesday night, fighters of the Biafra Liberation Army launched bloody attack on Ehime Mbano local government secretariat. The Nigerian army uses the secretariat as a mini-base.
The officers on duty were taken off guard during the attack. This medium reliably gathered that the both side recorded heavy casualties during the clash.
Operational vehicles of the officers were set ablaze by the militants. In a video sighted by Newsband, operatives of the Biafra Liberation Army were heard calling on the Nigerian army to come out from their hiding and face them in gun battle. Fresh blood was seen littered in the scene of the attack.
Ekpa Orders Biafra Defense Force To Bring Down Nigerian Air Force Jet In Orlu.
Following the unrest which trailed the attack in Ehime Mbano, this paper gathered that Nigerian Air Force Jet has been hovering around Orlu local government as part of surveillance operation by the authorities to smoke out the militants.
But Ekpa who appears larger than life on Wednesday, order the Biafra Defense Force (BDF) to shoot down the surveillance chopper with what he called “heavy equipment”.
He gave the marching order in a post on his official X handle.
“The BDF must bring the fighter jet down in Orlu, that should be the primary target. This night or tomorrow when they come back. We call on Biafrans in Orlu to be very vigilant and follow instructions whenever the fighter jet start throwing the bomb. It is time to use the heavy equipment”, Ekpa said in the post.
Army Denies Killing Of Personnel In Ehime Mbano.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has denied reports that said scores of Nigerian soldiers were killed during the attack by the Biafra Liberation Army in Ehime Mbano local government secretariat.
On Thursday, Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, Acting Deputy Director of the 82 Division Army Public Relations, released a statement in Enugu, declaring the report as “entirely false and mere fabrications from sympathizers of a dissident group.”
“The 82 Division Nigerian Army has been made aware of these baseless allegations circulating in some online media, which assert that an attack on our troops stationed at the Ehime Mbano Local Government Secretariat resulted in numerous casualties.
“This narrative is a fabrication, originating from the minds of the terrorist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and their supporters, aimed at undermining the confidence of the people of Imo and, by extension, the entire South-East region,” Unuakhalu said.
He recalled that on October 3, 2023, the Local Government Headquarters of Isiala Mbano LGA, constructed with public funds, was destroyed by the same criminal elements; however, there were no attacks or casualties among our troops or civilians.
The spokesman pointed out that a similar attempt occurred at the Ehime Mbano council area secretariat late on Wednesday, October 8, 2024.
Fortunately, he noted, the valiant efforts of our troops thwarted the criminals’ attempt to breach the council area secretariat.
“The armed assailants, who approached in large numbers and fired indiscriminately from a distance, were forced to retreat due to the superior firepower of our vigilant and courageous troops.
“In a follow-up operation conducted early today, evidence of heavy casualties among the dissidents was confirmed, as indicated by bloodstains found on the Ehime Mbano-Oriagwu Road,” he added.
Unuakhalu urged the public to dismiss the misinformation disseminated by these online publications, assuring that troops remain committed to safeguarding citizens and vital government infrastructure in the state while decisively confronting any criminal elements seeking to disrupt order.
He condemned the “cowardly actions of these dissidents,” who destroy public buildings funded by taxpayers, where law-abiding citizens earn their livelihoods, calling their behavior “deeply unfortunate.”
“The IPOB elements demonstrate that they are not acting in the interest of the people, but for their own selfish motives.
“The 82 Division Headquarters encourages all Imolites and residents of the South-East to continue providing security information that will assist law enforcement in eliminating these criminal elements by calling our toll-free line 193 and selecting Option 2.
“The good citizens of the South-East region are urged to carry on with their daily socio-economic activities without fear or intimidation from any group.”