First Republic Minister of Aviation, Mbazulike Amaechi, has advised members of the Eastern Security Network to defend themselves if attacked.
ESN is controlled by the Indigenous People of Biafra which has been proscribed by the Federal Government.
The security outfit recently lost a commander, Ikonso, during an operation involving the police, army and operatives of the Department of State Services.
This is as the South-East region has been troubled by attacks on police formations and operatives including a prison in Imo State.
In an earlier report, Amaechi expressed the belief that IPOB has nothing to do with the attacks in the region.
“I will advise IPOB to steer clear of what is happening in the South East and let the truth be revealed. Let them maintain the sanctity of their innocence. If the ESN people are attacked, let them defend themselves. I don’t want IPOB to go into violence because they have neither the arms nor the wherewithal and capability to do that.
“Who is investigating these attacks? The Police are investigating the IPOB. Can the police investigate the government or themselves? What is happening now is like what Hitler did against the Jews, sent their secret service men to commit certain crimes and got back to accuse the Jews.
“I believe they are sending them to commit these attacks and burning of properties so that the impression will be that IPOB is behind it in order for them to either kill them or declare a state of emergency in Igbo land or to do whatever they like or completely kill the Igbo the way they like,” he said.
ESN commander didn’t die in gun battle with Army – IPOB clarifies
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB has clarified that the murdered Commander of its security outfit, Eastern Security Network, ESN was killed while he was sleeping in his father’s compound.
This was contrary to the previous report by the Nigerian army that the commander was killed during a gun battle.
Recall that Nigerian security forces carried out a joint operation in Imo State on Saturday, April 24 which led to the death of the ESN Commander, Ikonso and several others.
In a statement on Tuesday by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, IPOB alleged that the Nigerian security forces eliminated the commander over his decision to eradicate herdsmen from the Southeast.
“The bitter truth the Nigerian Government didn’t want people to hear, which IPOB disclosed at the said interview, was that Ikonso was murdered in his father’s house, not in any imaginary ESN camp or battlefield as the liars would hope to have us believe.
“The same Army, Police and DSS in Imo State that never for one day arrested or prosecuted any Fulani terror herdsman ravaging Imo State before the coming of Ikonso; the same Nigerian security agents that have always provided cover for terrorists and bandits, had the guts to ambush and kill the only man that drove Fulani terrorist herdsmen out of Imo State.
The group which accused the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma of plotting the death of the commander, had in a statement, vowed to launch a reprisal attack.
Killings: Wike imposes curfew on Rivers’ borders
Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has imposed a night curfew at all the borders Rivers shares with Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Imo States following recent attacks and killings of security operatives by gunmen.
Wike, in state broadcast on Tuesday, said the curfew would take effect from Wednesday by 8pm.
He said it was necessitated by the recent security breaches and deadly attacks on security personnel by yet to be identified gunmen.
The Governor said: “The Government of Rivers State has decided to restrict night movements into and out of the State from the land borders of the State.
“Consequently, a night curfew is hereby imposed and no person or vehicle is allowed into and out of Rivers State from 8.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. from tomorrow (Wednesday) 28 April 2021 until further notice.
“We wish to advise that those who have any legitimate need or reason to come into or go out of the State must do so before 8.00 pm when the curfew shall come into force daily.”
The Governor said security agencies had been posted to monitor and enforce strict compliance to the curfew at all borders with Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Imo States.
He explained on Saturday some innocent officers of the Customs, Police and Civil Defence services on their duty posts along the Port Harcourt – Owerri Expressway were ambushed and gruesomely murdered in cold blood by armed attackers.
He said on Sunday, the state witnessed another deadly attack and killing of officers and men of the Nigerian Army right in their duty post at Abua town in Abua Odual Local Government Area of the state.
The Governor said although the security agencies were investigating the attacks with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice, nobody knew where and when the next incident would take place.
Channels TV apologises for breach of broadcasting code – NBC
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Tuesday said Channels Television has apologised over its infraction of the broadcasting code.
NBC’s Director of Public Affairs, Mrs Franca Aiyetan, said this in a recent interview with the on Tuesday in Abuja.
Aiyetan explained that the commission’s letter to the TV station was a regulatory instrument to check the excesses of the station called “the bridge letter “.
She said that the intent of the letter was neither to close down nor sanction the station, rather it was meant to draw the station’s attention to its breach of the broadcasting code, adding that “the station has accordingly apologised’’.
According to her, the letter is asking Channels TV to explain why it gave credence to an organisation that was already proscribed by the Federal Government.
“It was actually not for public consumption, it was not a press release. It was a regulatory instrument to check the excesses of the station.
“It is a station that won an award but we say in this particular situation, you did not handle it professionally.
“It is possible to bridge the public peace and that was what the letter conveyed to Channels TV, to which the TV station has responded, saying we apologise, we did wrong.
“When the media started asking me about Channels TV, I had to go and find out what letter we had issued out because if it is a press release or something that is for public consumption it will come to the Public Affairs Department of NBC.
“And I will be able to communicate to the media about it but this letter that went to Channels TV is our way of regulating the broadcasting industry.
“It is called a bridge letter to the station to say in this particular programme you did not act professionally; you did not do it in line with the provision of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.”
The director further explained that the particular programme in reference was an interview of somebody who was representing an organisation that was already proscribed by the Federal Government.
