ESN: We called for military operation in Orlu, says Imo Govt.

The Imo State Government has declared its support for the “ongoing military operation” in Orlu Local Government Area of the state.

There were apprehensions in Orlu a few days ago when a military helicopter flew at low level in the area.

Channels TV quoted the Attorney General of Imo State, Cyprian Akaolisa, as saying the operation, which was conducted jointly with the police, was aimed at “clearing camps” said to have been built by the Eastern Security Network, a security arm of the pro-Biafra group, IPOB.

Mr Akaolisa, who briefed reporters on Friday. February 19, 2021,  in Owerri, said the Nigerian Army was invited to Orlu by the Imo State Government.

He said “the state government got intelligence that IPOB was planning an attack against the Orlu people and the government, under the pretext of looking for herders in the communities”.

“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,” the attorney general said.

“There are no Fulani herdsmen in Orlu,” he added.