Nigerians have taken to micro blogging platform Twitter to call out the Nigeria Army over reported military actions on Orlu, a relatively peaceful urban city with civilian population in Imo state.
According to reports making the rounds on social media, the Nigerian Army are carrying out air strikes on Orlu residents hoping to flush out the members of Eastern Security Network (ESN), a 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.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the military with Mi-35 helicopters opened fire on unarmed civilians while some other parts of the country suffering from banditry and terrorism are left unchecked.
WITHIN NIGERIA reports that ESN was established by Nnamdi Kanu leader of IPOB with the “the sole aim and objective of this newly formed Security outfit to halt every criminal activity and banditry in the East”. Kanu while inaugurating the Eastern Security Network, ESN, said the outfit was not different from Amotekun in the West, and Miyetti Allah in the North.
However, the security outfit has suffered opposition from government since inception.
Some Nigerians have taken to social media to accuse the Nigeria Army of inciting Ethnic war following it recent attacks on the Orlu people of Eastern part of the country.
Here are some reactions gathered by WITHIN NIGERIA from Twitter NG.
https://twitter.com/Real_AdaKing/status/1362392968930459649
https://twitter.com/DrOlufunmilayo/status/1362383622477672458
Instead to drop bomb for sambisa … Na for orlu dem go dey drop bomb …
God if na swear you swear for us … Because of you be God … Forgive us nau 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭#PrayForOrlu— Adéwále👑 (@ope_ade97) February 18, 2021
Orlu boils again!
Nigerian army is currently in Orlu, hovering with war helicopter, searching for ESN. pic.twitter.com/XZPuyZIyZa— Nichez (@NichezChinedu) February 18, 2021
They are killing my people at Orlu
They are killing my people at Orlu
They are killing my people at Orlu
They are killing my people at Orlu
They are killing my people at Orlu
They are killing my people at Orlu💔💔💔💔
— KACHI 🍝📷 (@Chef_Kachi) February 18, 2021
Just talk tough against any northern interest in Nigeria and see how northern political, religious & thought leaders would converge, rally round & support their own against all odds.
See how the Nigerian Army attacked Orlu in Imo State today? Southern leaders won't say pim! pic.twitter.com/sNcao5QRe1
— FestusGreen #PeterObi (@FestusGreen) February 18, 2021
Anybody that went to the east for Christmas/New Year definitely knew something was up. The heavy presence of security forces. Every 5 mins there was a police/army checkpoint. In Enugu, I saw more than 20 vehicles transporting soldiers to who-knows-where. Now air strikes in Orlu.
— ULOMA🐝 (@ulxma) February 18, 2021
What did igbos do wrong?
This is messed up— Jamila Motunrola 🇳🇬◽ (@mobytoolz) February 18, 2021
Air raids in civilian populated areas in Orlu, Imo State to fish out ESN members while, terrorists/Bandits with RPGs litter d North West n South West forests unleashing mayhem on civilians.If this gets out of hand,the 'Nigerian' govt is on its own this time around
— Oluwaseun Boyejo (@OluwaseunBoyejo) February 18, 2021
Nigeria military helicopter gun seen firing positions in Orlu. Stay tuned for updates. #africaworldnews @ Orlu, Imo https://t.co/aAgWLQKQJ8
— AfricaWorldNewspaper (@AfricaWorldNews) February 18, 2021
Orlu matter now part of my headache in this country.
Thinking of inflation, insecurity, Police brutality and every other bad thing… Now Orlu???
It's too much
— Mo-Mo💙 (@Morris_Monye) February 18, 2021
The Nigerian Army has officially kick-started another massacre operation in Orlu , Orlu is a peaceful city… This should be on record!!!
— OwonlaTobi #EndSARS (@largemony) February 18, 2021
How can a government be fighting it's people on different fronts: #EndSARS, Orlu, Yoruba, Ijaw, stamp duty, etc
— King David 👑 (@DSamdave) February 18, 2021
The Nigerian government has soldiers and helicopters doing airstrikes in Orlu, a habitation of millions of people living peacefully but can't send same airstrikes to inhibit the activities of insurgency in the North.
Make this make sense please.
— Uncle Jaykay! (@kruzblaq) February 18, 2021
What they did in Orlu in January was a test. This morning the thought that of the Nigerian Army going back to Orlu crossed my mind that they will be back, coincidentally they are back today with helicopter gunships…
Nigeria is very predictable.
— theo.io 💙 (@theo_dot_io) February 18, 2021
UPDATE:
Reports have it that soldiers of the Nigerian army are currently firing air strikes at Orlu?
This sounds very absurd to my ears. Is this even true? Can anyone confirm this?
— Sir David Onyemaizu🦍 (@SirDavidBent) February 18, 2021
BREAKING !!!
Every BIAFRA Civilians in Orlu should stay indoors. Men are Engaging the Vampires!!!
~Mazi Edoziem [DOS]
— odinakabiafra (@odinakabiafra2) February 18, 2021
https://twitter.com/honilatte/status/1362371260110548995
https://twitter.com/championalways7/status/1362382754177036291