The Nigerian military on February 17, 2021 launched heavy attacks on the camps of the Eastern Security Network, ESN, in the forest Umunna in Orlu and Orsu local government areas of Imo state.
The military launched air strikes in Orlu on hearing ESN had set up a base in the forest.
A source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: “The military first visited the camp of the ESN, in Umunna in Orlu local government area and before they get there our men got the information and relocated. Not only that they also visited another camp they did not see anybody. So the military destroyed the camps of the ESN. Nobody was killed in this operation. But our people are living in fears.
Residents of Orlu who cried out about fear for their safety alleged that the military started with a show of force.
Another villager who introduced himself as Chief Thomas Ndudi, gave his own side of the story, “On Tuesday we saw over 30 trucks of military vehicle moving in their convoy moving in and out of Orlu in search of the members of the Eastern Security Network, they keep searching for them throughout Wednesday and on Thursday they discovered their camps and they started destroying them.
“The first day they even used a helicopter to hover around the forest locating the camps of the Eastern security network.
“The truth is that villages close to the forest are living in fears as the sound of guns have made them even running inside their houses and some of them abandoned their homes out of fear of being hit by a stray bullet.”
