The Nigerian military and other security agencies have been placed on “red alert” following the ambush and killing of Nigerian Army troops who were burned to ashes in their two operational vehicles in Ehime Mbano, Imo State.
Troops deployed in the regions have been directed to “shun all forms of extortion and maintain serious vigilante.”
The ambush, killing and burning of the soldiers is being blamed “on the resurgence of the criminal activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN).”
The source warned all military personnel serving in South East region to “note that leader of the gang Simon Ekpa ordered all his men to attack every government facilities in the region in which their main targets are on Police formations, Army Barracks, both with checkpoints and INEC offices.”
The killing is coming barely one month after terrorists ambushed and killed three officers and 22 soldiers along the Kundu-Zungeru road in Wushishi Local Government Area of Niger State.
Also, additional seven soldiers who were wounded during the ambush, along with two pilots, and two crew members died in the crashed Nigerian Air Force (NAF) MI-171 helicopter on evacuation operations.
Alluding to the viral video on the killing of the soldiers and burning of vehicles especially the incident on September 19, 2023 at Ehime Mbano, Imo State, the source noted that all troops have been directed “to be on red alert, combat ready at all times, whether on duty or not on duty, give adequate situation reports every thirty (30) minutes.
“Note that browsing of phones should be regarded as serious distraction while on duty. Making of unnecessary long calls to be avoided until you get home.
“Also, suspect every moveable creatures, screen, check to confirm thoroughly before allow anyone get close to you.”
The recent upsurge in violence followed the directive by Simon Ekpa, the leader of IPOB/ESN Autopilot Group and self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Government in Exile (BRGIE), who had ordered a 3-week civil disobedience in protest over the continued detention of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
He has also directed all his followers to enforce the declared lockdown.
He had said in a statement titled ‘Delegitimization of Nigeria within Biafra Territory’ that if Kanu is not released and all roadblocks and checkpoints in the South East are not dismantled by September 15, 2023, there will be another three weeks of civil disobedience, including a curfew.
Ekpa added that during the three weeks of curfew, all Nigerian government secretariats I the region must remain closed while no federal government agent will be allowed to move around.
He then directed his IPOB/ESN armed faction to ensure strict obedience and enforcement of his directives.
He listed the three-week sit-at-home and curfew protest as follows:
Week One (September 18–September 23, 2023):
September 18, 2023: Normal Monday sit-at-home
September 19–22, 2023: Curfew from 6 a.m. to noon
September 23, 2023: Normal movement
Week Two (September 25–October 1, 2023):
September 25, 2023: Normal Monday sit-at-home
September 26–29, 2023: Curfew from 6 a.m. to noon
September 30–October 1, 2023: Normal movement in Biafra country.
Week Three (October 2–October 6, 2023):
October 2, 2023: Normal Monday sit-at-home
October 3-6, 2023: Curfew from 6 a.m. to noon.