The Nigerian Army has confirmed that two of its soldiers were killed and weapons carted away by operatives of Eastern Security Network (ESN), an armed wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

IPOB is a separatist organisation seeking for the restoration of Republic of Biafra from Nigeria following age-long accusation of marginalisation of the people of the South-East region of Nigeria since the Biafra – Nigeria civil war.

In a statement on Saturday, the Nigerian Army said that incident happened at Osina, Ideator North Local Government Area of Imo State, when its troops of 34 Artillery Brigade returning from routine patrols responded to a distress call of IPOB/ESN attack on Osina Community.

According to the statement, on arrival, the troops engaged the “terrorists” with overwhelming fire power, killing some of them, with no figure specific, while adding that the “dissidents withdrew in dissary”.

“Unfortunately, two security agents had been killed in action and one other missing in action and their weapons, an AK 47 Rifle and a Tear Gas Launcher were carted away by the terrorists.”

The statement noted that the corpses of the slain agents had been recovered and the troops have proceeded in pursuit of the fleeing “terrorists”.

The statement added, “Contact was again made with the criminal IPOB/ESN elements at Nkwachi Community and in the firefight that ensued, one of the dissidents was neutralised while others who could not withstand the troop’s fire power ran into the nearby forest. One (1) AK-47 rifle with a fully loaded magazine was recovered.

“The unrelenting troops continued to pursue the remnant of the criminals deep into Umalouma forest where a heavy firefight further broke out. The dissidents finally abandoned their weapons due to troops’ superior fire power and scampered into the thickly forested area with severe gunshot injuries. An additional five (4) Ak – 47 rifles, one (1) Fabrique Nationale Rifle and five (2) Magazines were recovered. A total of six (5) AK 47 Rifles and a Tear Gas Launcher were recovered.

“Further exploitation is ongoing as troops will continue to trail the injured terrorists and smoke them out of their hideouts and places of treatment. We urge all IPOB/ESN irredentists and other criminal elements hiding in the bushes to surrender to the nearest troops’ location or meet their waterloo as troops of the Brigade will continue to ensure that Imolites celebrate the Yuletide Season in peace without fear or intimidation.”

The army in the statement appealed to the people of Imo State to continue to support the military by giving them timely intelligence on the hideouts and movements of the “terrorists to enable us rid the state of all criminality”.

The media had reported that since 2021 after the Supreme Court declared Senator Hope Uzodinma, who came fourth in the 2019 general election as the governor of the Imo State, sacking the people’s elected governor in a questionable circumstances, the state had been a killing field, with the military burning down several communities and markets in the guise of fighting separatists.

Gloria George’s life was shattered on the night of September 10, 2024, when her 34-year-old son, Horsefall Rowland, failed to return home. Earlier that day, Rowland had told his mother he was heading to a meeting at Peter Odili Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, but as the hours passed without word from him, Gloria’s anxiety grew.

By 10 pm that night, she had spoken to Rowland, who reassured her he was on his way home. However, when she tried to reach him again later, there was no response. Her worst fears were confirmed early the next morning when Rowland called her at 5 am, frantic with fear. He explained that he had been kidnapped.

As the family desperately scrambled to raise the ransom, they began receiving threatening voice notes and photos from the kidnappers, warning them that Rowland would be killed if the money was not paid. In a last-ditch effort, they sent N30,000, hoping it would save their son’s life. Tragically, it was too late. Rowland’s body was later discovered along Queens/Kings Bakery, Abuloma Road, in Port Harcourt.

In a devastating statement to the police on November 1, 2024, Gloria shared the harrowing details of her son’s captivity. She revealed that the kidnappers initially demanded N2.5 million, though they eventually settled for N300,000. The money was transferred into Rowland’s account, but after that, there was no further contact.

“They sent two threatening voice notes and pictures to Rowland’s girlfriend, saying that if they didn’t receive the N300,000 within the shortest time, we should consider Roland dead,” Gloria said. Unfortunately, that was the last time the family heard from him.

After receiving the family’s complaint, the Rivers State Police Command swiftly launched an investigation, arresting five suspects involved in the crime: Endurance Thompson (23), Boma Otonye (41), David Ishaku (34), Moses Benjamin (29), and Emmanuel (32).

The prime suspect, Thompson, was arrested in his hideout in Woji, Rivers State. He confessed to the crime, revealing that Rowland had been beaten to death after attempting to pay for hard drugs with a fake bank transfer alert.

Thompson explained that Rowland had come to buy “Charlie” (a street name for cocaine) from him on September 11, 2024, around 3 am, behind the Port Harcourt Zoo, Trans Amadi. According to Thompson, Rowland had made a series of fake transfer attempts to pay for the drugs. “I received an alert, but the amount in my account remained unchanged. He owed me N150,000 and claimed to have transferred N8,000 first and N20,000. But the money never actually entered my account,” Thompson said.

An argument broke out over the fake transfer, and Rowland was subsequently beaten. He later begged Thompson to take him to the hospital for treatment. Thompson called a friend, Justice, but by the time they arrived, Rowland had died inside the Keke Marwa that had rushed him to Justice’s place. Thompson informed Justice of the death, and together with another accomplice, Michael, they disposed of Rowland’s body, dumping it beside a bakery on Abuloma Road.

SP Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, confirmed that Rowland’s body had been deposited in the morgue for preservation. She also stated that the investigation is ongoing, with efforts to apprehend other individuals mentioned by the suspects, who were allegedly involved in the beating that led to Rowland’s tragic death.

Eyewitnesses claimed that the youths were forced at gunpoint to transfer money from their bank accounts to designated POS account numbers.

A disturbing incident has been reported in Aboh Mbaise, Imo State, where some policemen allegedly extorted and harassed over 50 youths at a checkpoint on the Enyiogugu Mbaise road.

Eyewitnesses claimed that the youths were forced at gunpoint to transfer money from their bank accounts to designated POS account numbers.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage among residents, who are demanding that traditional rulers and community leaders intervene to put an end to the alleged abuses.

The extortion has also forced many youths to avoid the checkpoint; instead they travel at night and expose themselves to increased risks of robbery and kidnapping.

Stanley, an eyewitness, who spoke to journalists on the development, has urged the Imo State Police Command to investigate and address the situation immediately.

He noted that similar incidents had been reported in the area, highlighting the need for swift action to ensure the safety and security of the youths in the community.

“The Imo State Police Command has been urged to take immediate action to address the situation and ensure the safety and security of the youths in the community.

“It is worth noting that there have been reports of insecurity in Imo State, including kidnapping and armed robbery.

“The state government and security agencies have been working to address the situation, but more needs to be done to ensure the safety and security of citizens,” he told journalists in Imo state.

Meanwhile in response to the allegations, the police spokesman in the state, Henry Okoye, acknowledged the complaint and assured that necessary steps had been taken to apprehend and punish any officers found culpable.

“This complaint is acknowledged, necessary steps have been initiated to look into this and ensure that officers found culpable are severely sanctioned,” he noted.