by Njoku Chidera
The ongoing power struggle between the Eastern Security Network (ESN) which is the military wing of IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) and Nigeria’s security agencies in Imo State has created a deadly and dangerous scenario, leaving innocent Igbo youths vulnerable to both sides of the conflict. Caught in the crossfire, many young men have gone missing or been unjustly targeted, as security forces and ESN members clash violently. This has led to increasing fear and anguish among families who find their loved ones accused of being militants or bandits, regardless of their innocence.
One of the most notable incidents occurred on August 22, 2024, when ESN operatives launched a fierce attack on a police unit at Okpala Junction in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area. The assault resulted in several casualties, both on the police side and among local residents. Many of those living in the area went missing in the aftermath, including one Mr Chuka Nwosu, Ifeanyi Ibekwe, and Nnamdi Okafor all young men from the surrounding communities of Eziama. Their families are now desperately seeking answers, fearing that they were swept up in the violence and accused of ties to the ESN, despite having no involvement.
Further compounding the situation, security agencies have carried out multiple raids in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, including in Eziama, under the suspicion that these communities harbor members of the ESN. In September 2024, one such raid resulted in the arrest of over 10 youths, some of whom remain unaccounted for. Witnesses reported that the raid was indiscriminate, with security forces rounding up youths, accusing them of being part of the ESN or of supporting the group’s activities.
The conflict has spread beyond the local level into the five South Eastern States of Nigeria On October 3, 2024, an unknown group of gunmen attacked the Nigerian military base in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area. The military quickly attributed the assault to the ESN, which has been linked to several attacks on security forces in the region.
Following this attack, military operations intensified, leading to more raids and further displacement of civilians, leaving many young men missing or dead in the wake of these violent clashes.
Adding to the unrest, on September 30th, 2024, the home of Senator Franklin Ibezim, a prominent political figure in the region. The senator's residence was targeted in a drive-by shooting and arsoned, which has been widely attributed to the ESN. The attack resulted in property damage and injuries to several members of the senator’s security team. This incident heightened tensions in the area, prompting increased military presence and operations while also amplifying the already high levels of fear among civilians.
One particular tragic case is that of Mr Victor Nwosu, Vincent Amaechi and Chima Njoku , young men from Umugo and Amankwu villages in Eziama, Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area who were arrested by security agents around May of 2023 with other youths numbering over twenty and their whereabouts remain unkown. His family, along with many others, have been crying out for information, fearing their loved ones may have been wrongfully captured or killed by either the ESN or the security forces in the chaotic aftermath of these incidents. Families like Vincent’s are struggling to find any answers as to the whereabouts of their missing sons and daughters.
Moreover, in Ehime Mbano, an attack on the National Open University building (NSE) on the eve of September 30th, 2024 which occurred in the same timeframe as the military base attack, was also linked to the ongoing conflict, with authorities suspecting the ESN’s involvement. This attack on the institution further illustrates the expanding violence in the region and the collateral damage it inflicts on civilians and institutions alike.
The Imo State Police Command has called on residents to cooperate in identifying and locating those believed to be involved in the unrest. However, the situation has left many families in a precarious position either they provide information and risk their loved ones being labeled as bandits, ESN operatives or they remain silent and face the uncertainty of not knowing whether their children are alive or dead.
As the conflict between security forces and the ESN deepens, the number of missing youths continues to grow. The cries of families like those of Vincent Amaechi, Chuka Nwosu, Ifeanyi Ibekwe, and Nnamdi Okafor echo across Imo State, demanding for answers and accountability. Their stories reflect the larger tragedy faced by countless families in the region, where innocent lives are being lost, and the line between victim and perpetrator is often blurred. The urgent need for peace, justice, and clarity has never been more critical.
The ESN is agitating for an independent state of Biafra while the security agents are bent on crushing the agitation, thereby giving them no hiding place in Nigeria.
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