Army Claims Territory Reclaimed from Eastern Security Network
By Ebere Inyama
(Imo state, Nigeria) Displaced residents of Orlu and Orsu counties (local government areas) of Imo state in southeastern Nigeria are gradually returning to their homes five years after the area was turned into a battlefield, TruthNigeria has learned.
Beginning from mid-2021, an armed group sponsored by a Finland–based politician, Simon Ekpa, had used the forest in Ihitte-Ukwa located in Orsu county of Imo state as a base from where they attacked and killed soldiers and policemen, kidnapped people for ransom and enforced the already suspended sit – at –home order given earlier by the Directorate of State (the highest decision making body within the separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra).
“In 2024, the Joint Task Force chased the terrorists away from the valley, but after the security operatives were recalled, the hoodlums came back and continued terrorizing the residents, killing close to 6,000 people in the communities and also killing police officers on the highways”, said a displaced resident of Orsu county, Dr. Cyril Isaiah to News Central TV.
In March, 2026, the Nigerian military announced that its operatives have reclaimed the affected communities from the ‘ESN’ terrorists operating in Orlu and Orsu counties of Imo state but reports from the media as well as testimonies from displaced residents of the area indicate that the terrorists are still active in the outskirts of the communities, and the majority of the displaced families are yet to return home.
“ESN is an acronym for the Eastern Security Network, a militant group affiliated to the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), whose duty was to protect the farmlands in the southeast zone of Nigeria from attacks by armed Fulani militants. The ESN was formed by Nnamdi Kanu in December 2020, and its membership was made up of volunteers.”
Displaced residents blame Kanu, Ekpa for killings in the southeast
Speaking during an interview with TruthNigeria, a displaced resident from Ihitte Ukwa in Orsu county who identified himself as Boniface Chukwu, said normalcy is gradually returning to the affected areas.
“Since the jail sentences on Namdi Kanu and Simon Ekpa, the situation in my hometown as well as other neighbours to my community such as lilu and Orsumoghu in Anambra State have improved positively”, said Chukwu to TruthNigeria.
“We are still trying our best to recover the minor outskirts still inhabited by the ESN terrorists,” he continued.
“I do visit my family house nowadays, and people are gradually returning back home”, Chukwu added.
“The time that Simon Ekpa was arrested, violent attacks on civilians and security operatives reduced by 50 percent, and when Nnamdi Kanu was convicted, it reduced to 10 percent,” said Chigozie Nnabugwu to News Central TV.
“If Nnamdi Kanu is killed today, trust me, normalcy will return to the Southeast,” Nnabugwu added.
Kanu was illegally arrested during his visit to Kenya in mid- 2021 and repatriated to Nigeria where he faced trial in the law court before he was sentenced to life imprisonment on November 20, 2025.
Two Militant Groups, One Identity
“With Kanu’s arrest and detention, his influence over the militant wing of the IPOB, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), was completely eroded”, said a Ghanaian-based member of IPOB, Mr. Jerry Okoh to TruthNigeria.
“With no funding coming from their leader and intensified onslaught from Nigerian security forces, most of the ESN operatives were forced to lay down their arms,” Okoh continued.
“Then the Finland-based impostor, Simon Ekpa, escalated the crisis by recruiting local cultists and prison escapees who carried out the killing of soldiers and policemen and enforced the sit–at–home order,” Okoh added.
Whereas Ekpa’s foot soldiers identified themselves as members of the Biafran Liberation Army (BLA), affiliated to the Biafran Republican Government In Exile (BRGIE) led by Simon Ekpa, the Nigerian government labeled them ‘ESN’.
Ekpa was arrested by the Finnish government in November, 2024, convicted and jailed for six years.
Conspiracy Theory that Brought Ekpa to Limelight
Speaking further during the interview with TruthNigeria, Okoh alleged that Ekpa’s appointment as a broadcaster in Radio Biafra was masterminded by the Nigerian government.
“When Ekpa’s appointment was announced, Kanu was in the DSS custody”, said Okoh to TruthNigeria.
“We got to know about the appointment through Kanu’s lawyer, Mr. Alloy Ejimakor,” he continued.
“Kanu has never confirmed that he gave a directive for Ekpa to be appointed in any position within the IPOB.
“Ekpa’s controversial appointment and his subsequent terror-based activities provided the Nigerian government with an excuse to justify its designation of IPOB as a terrorist organisation,” Okoh added.
Whereas members of the Biafran Liberation Army, often called the Eastern Security Network by the Nigerian government, were responsible for the displacement of residents in Orlu and Orsu counties of Imo State and some parts of Anambra state, the Fulani Ethnic Militia are responsible for the sacking of residents from their ancestral homes in parts of Enugu and Ebonyi state, according to TruthNigeria’s investigations.
In Anambra state, residents of Aguata and Njikoka counties were forced to relocate to the state capital, Awka or major towns such as Onitsha following frequent clashes between the Nigerian security operatives and members of the ESN.
In Isi – Uzo County of Enugu state, no fewer than 16 villages and farm settlements have been deserted following repeated violent attacks on the residents by armed Fulani herders, according to a recent report by TruthNigeria.
Earlier on 5 February, 2025, residents of Nkalaha community in Ishielu county of Ebonyi state reportedly fled from their homes after the killing of 15 members of the community by heavily armed Fulani militants.
Ebere Inyama reports on conflict and religious freedom for TruthNigeria.
