By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Abuja is currently conducting airstrikes against the Independent Peoples of Biafra control Eastern Security Network while seeking to negotiate with the bandits who have been abducting schoolchildren and travellers.
An Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, has made the case for the bandits in the North to be granted amnesty. He has the support of the Zamfara State caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the senate who are also pushing for amnesty even after the bandits abducted more than one hundred school children in Niger State, plus a busload of passengers.
The bandits have also been allocated N200 million for their rehabilitation.
On February 18, military fighter jets believed to be deployed by the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force conducted airstrikes in Orlu communities in Imo State, which has worsened the already built-up tension in the areas.
The airstrikes are believed to be aimed at dislodging the Eastern Security Network operatives said to have strongholds in the Orlu forests.
A video of the aerial bombardments showed the community in Orlu panicking while bombs were being dropped from the air.
“Nigerian soldiers are currently conducting aerial strikes in our areas. Many innocent lives may be lost. They are probably looking for ESN operatives who are checking the activities of killer Fulani herdsmen,” a community head told SaharaReporters.
“People’s homes and market places may be affected. We don’t need aircraft in Orlu. They should go and find the stolen school pupils in Niger State,” another angry resident said.
“I have the video. There was an aircraft firing shots possibly in a nearby bush. Very reckless of the airforce; civilians are all over the place,” another person said.