Several residents of south-east communities have shared harrowing accounts of attacks allegedly carried out by members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), an affiliate of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the IPOB, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday after being convicted of terrorism.
In posts shared on Friday on social media, many described how their villages have been emptied by fear, abductions and killings attributed to the group.
A user identified as Dat_Igbo_Boy said his community is “currently deserted”, adding that his uncle was killed in 2023 despite the family paying a ransom.
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He said there are no police stations left in the area because they had been destroyed, adding that residents have been left without protection.
Another user, Chimnoya, said her cousin died two weeks ago in an incident linked to ESN.
She said her mother’s cousin was abducted from his home in 2023 and has not been seen since, adding that her village “has lost over five people” in similar circumstances.
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A third resident, Akụzuonu, said only people who have not suffered from the violence dismiss its impact.
Akụzuonu said he woke up one morning to hear his younger sister crying over the phone after her husband and mother-in-law were abducted.
He said the family paid ransom to secure their release and later found the victim’s vehicle abandoned at a car stand in Abuja.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house of representatives, says a political solution is underway to secure the release of Kanu.
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In a statement after Kanu’s imprisonment, the deputy speaker expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would listen to the pleas of well-meaning Igbo leaders on the matter.
