Operatives of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) on Wednesday stormed Ariaria International Market in Aba, Abia State, instructing traders not to disobey the sit-at-home exercise declared by the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) in the South-East region.
The foremost separatist group had declared two-day sit-at-home exercise to protest against President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Ebonyi State today.
A similar pronouncement was made when Mr Buhari visited Imo State last year and it was complied with apparently for fear of being victimised by operatives of the para-military arm.
Members of the security outfit, formed with the sole aim of chasing away violent herdsmen in the Igbo predominant region, according to various video clips trending online, came into the Ariaria market with various kinds of dangerous arms and ammunition.
Several video clips seen by TODAY POLITICS showed the masked armed men, mostly dressed in black attires, wielding AK-47 rifles, axes, cutlasses, e.t.c, announcing that from Thursday (today) to Friday, residents of the area are expected to stay indoors due to the President’s visit to Ebonyi State.
Traders hailed the ESN operatives whom many said have chased away violent Fulani herdsmen rampaging farm lands, abducting, raping and killing in the region. A controversial Catholic priest, Ejike Mbaka, based in Enugu State, attested to this when he recently called for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the secessionist group, facing trial bordering on terrorism.
