IPOB Cries Out as Governor Soludo Contact Nigerian Army Personnels to Invade Communities, Detain Residents

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has raised concerns over the actions of Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, accusing him of enlisting the aid of the Nigerian Army and the Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG) to conduct raids in several communities within the Ogbaru Local Government Area.

According to a statement from IPOB’s media secretary, Emma Powerful, these operations have resulted in the unlawful arrest and detention of local residents, purportedly in an effort to displace the Eastern Security Network (ESN) operatives for political reasons.

IPOB claims that Governor Soludo has instructed military and AVG forces to target the communities of Umunankwo, Echeuche, and Osamalla in particular, leading to significant military presence in these areas. This military engagement has allegedly forced the closure of schools and has hindered local farmers from accessing their fields, thereby threatening food security in the region.

Furthermore, the group alleges that the military has been instructed to demolish any homes that fail to provide information on the whereabouts of IPOB/ESN operatives, with several houses reportedly already destroyed in the process. IPOB also criticizes the governor for purportedly utilizing the AVG and recruited individuals to intimidate and exploit the citizens of Anambra, accusing them of engaging in illegal arrests and demanding exorbitant fees for the release of detainees under the threat of violence.

The statement criticizes the AVG for mimicking the controversial tactics of groups such as Ebubeagu and SARS, and for the alleged extortion of residents under the guise of ESN operations. IPOB has called on Governor Soludo to prioritize the security and development of Anambra State, urging him to demilitarize the area and reevaluate the operations of AVG and other local security outfits.