Residents flee as military raids Enugu communities, kill suspected IPOB, ESN members

As a fallout of the last Wednesday attacks and the killing of some policemen at a checkpoint in Obeagu Awkunanaw Community of Enugu State, a mixed team of military and other security operatives raided the secret camp of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), at Akpawfu Community in  Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State on Friday, killing several members of the groups. 

The casualty figure on either side could not, however, be ascertained by press time as a reliable source disclosed that heavy sound of gunfire was still being heard from the area and within the communities of Akpugo and Amagunze by late Friday evening.

The ESN members were said to have stiffly resisted the security operatives from accessing their camp, engaging them in a gun duel which the source said lasted for several hours. 

A village source wondered why ESN was being attacked.

“They only stay in the forest to chase Fulani who kill our people and rape our women. We don’t see them at all, but the Fulani they are there and they fear them well,” he said.

Residents of the three communities were said to have fled their homes and sought refuge in the bush for fear of being arrested by the military men, who reportedly made several arrests.

“As I am talking to you now Akpawfu and neighboring communities of Akpugo and Amagunze have been deserted as the security men have invaded the entire area searching for the ESN members. The heavy sound of gunfire we are hearing could be likened to that of a raging war,” the source recalled.

Most young men have reportedly fled to other communities and to the urban centres to evade arrest he said.

“There is confusion everywhere and we hope that the innocent who have nothing to do with the attacks on the police are not made to suffer for the offence they did not commit,” the source added.

Efforts to get an official reaction of the state police command on the Friday encounter between the security operatives and the ESN members were not successful by press time.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Daniel Ndukwe, said he was yet to be briefed about the incident.

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