BIAFRA: Hidden Secret You Need to Know About ESN

The Eastern Security Network (ESN) is a South-Eastern

regional security force and a paramilitary wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a movement whose aim is to restore the independence of Biafra, which has been defunct since the 1967-1970 Nigerian Civil War.  The ESN´s stated goal is to combat Fulani raiders in the areas of

the former Eastern Region of Nigeria.

Leader: Mazi Nnamdi Kalu

Allegiance: Indigenous People of Biafra

Ideology: Biafran nationalism

Anti- Fulani sentiment

Battles and wars: Orlu Crisis

The ESN was founded by the IPOB Leader Mazi Nnamdi

Kanu on 12 December 2020 and commenced operations

almost immediately following his proclamation of its

creation in a broadcast.

History

Background

The IPOB hierarchy have long stated they have no intention

of going armed, but many of the movement's followers

have long disagreed with that position believing that the

frequent crackdown on the group by the Nigerian Army and

Police justifies them taking up arms to defend themselves.

This was especially after the clampdown during the

Operation Python Dance when an attack on the home of

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in Afaraukwu-Ibeku resulted in dozens

of the group's members dead and the disappearance of the

IPOB leader himself whom many feared had been killed by

the army. 

Formation

Nnamdi Kanu , the leader of IPOB, announced the formation

of the ESN on December 12, 2020. The stated aim was to

act as a regional security force to protect people against

Fulani raiders. However, the Nigerian government saw the

ESN as a threat to its authority and Fulani led Nigeria

Government's interest, and deployed the army to locate and

destroy ESN bases. This escalated with the outbreak of

the Orlu Crisis a month later.  The military confrontation

lasted for seven days, until ESN declared a unilateral

ceasefire and both sides withdrew from the city. 

Shortly after the Orlu Crisis, IPOB gave all the governors of

southeast Nigeria 14 days to ban open grazing, threatening

to deploy the ESN to enforce a ban if the authorities did not

do so.  However, the ESN did not wait 14 days; a few

days later, ESN operatives attacked a Fulani camp in

Isuikwuato , Abia State , killing their livestock and burning

down their houses. Following the raid, some governors

responded by heeding the ESN's call and banning open

grazing.

IPOB accused the Nigerian Army of working in collaboration

with the governor of Imo state of continuing the harassment

and intimidation of civilians in Orlu and environs especially

the arrest of a rabbi and his family members, whom it was

reported were being turtured. Beginning from 15th February

there were reports of Nigerian army sending reinforcements

to Orlu. On the 18th of February 2021 Nigeria Military

launched an airstrike in Orlu, Imo state; the IPOB issued a

swift statement through its State Directorate asserting that

"they have finally brought the war upon the Biafran

people." 

Source: Wikipedia