Human rights activist and co-convener of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, Aisha Yesufu and former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, have slammed the Nigerian Army for deploying soldiers to Orlu local government area of Imo State where five people were reportedly killed in a clash between the soldiers and members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Yesufu who took to her Twitter handle on Mqonday to condemn the invasion, said: “it was worrisome how the army unleashed its men on harmless citizens,” and the resultant violence and killing of innocent residents.
According to the Media and Publicity Secretary of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Emma Powerful, in a statement on Tuesday, the soldiers drawn from 34 Artillery Battalion in Obinze had invaded the Orlu community on Friday in a bid to flush out the ESN operatives from the bushes they are operating from and in the process, killed five residents.
Tweeting on the invasion, Yesufu said:
“The ease with which the Nigerian Army is deployed against civilians should worry us all. What is wrong is wrong irrespective of who is doing it. If someone cries of marginalisation, don’t shut it down, listen.”
On his part, Fani-Kayode who also took to his handle to condemn the invasion, said:
“Unleashing your Army on ESN was not smart. No matter how many you kill, more will rise up. Tread with caution. Do not bite off more than you can chew. Violence begets violence. Both East and West are kegs of gunpowder. Do not light the fuse. Seek peace, not war.
“The clash between soldiers and members of ESN in Orlu, Imo State, has resulted in some deaths and this is unfortunate. I call for restraint on both sides. The soldiers ought to be deployed against killer herdsmen and not ESN. When will Buhari learn? Please stay safe.”