Aisha Yesufu, Femi Fani-Kayode carpet Nigerian Army for deploying soldiers to Imo community

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 Monday 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.

Read also: IPOB justifies clash with soldiers, claims five innocent people killed in Orlu

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.”

The ease with which @HQNigerianArmy are deployed against civilians should worry us all.

— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) January 25, 2021

What is wrong is wrong irrespective of who is doing it. If someone cries of marginalisation don't shut it down, listen. https://t.co/qAufYpdyLc

— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) January 25, 2021

Unleashing your Army on ESN today 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!

— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) January 25, 2021

The clash between soldiers and members ESN in Orlu, Imo state today has resulted in some deaths & 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. Chidera Agu please stay safe.

— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) January 25, 2021

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now