The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has commended its security outfit, Eastern Security Network (ESN), for its doggedness in confronting terrorists masquerading as herdsmen on July 22 at Lokpanta, Abia State.

The group reiterated its commitment to root out terrorists masquerading as herdsmen, who kidnap and destroy life and farmlands in the area. It maintained that the ESN is not after responsible people carrying out their legitimate businesses.

In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB warned terrorists against attacking any community in the area, insisting herdsmen would no longer be allowed to do business in the event of an attack on the market.

The separatist group maintained that its security outfit has the responsibility to keep its land safe for its people and lawful residents, assuring that it would not renege on such obligation.

The statement reads in part: “We commend the doggedness of our security outfit, ESN, which confronted the terrorists masquerading as herdsmen at Lokpanta on July 22 2022.

“We commend IPOB leadership that has seen what our people are passing through in the hands of these terrorists kidnapping for ransom, raping our mothers in their farms, killing our men and snatching cars from travellers in Isiukwuato, Umunneochi, Isuochi and Okigwe in the last two years, for which government has refused to heed the cry of the citizens.

“IPOB commends ESN for doing the needful in those areas; we are not after responsible Fulani, who are doing their legitimate businesses. We are after terrorists masquerading as herdsmen kidnapping and destroying our people’s lives and farmlands in those areas.

“IPOB and ESN are responsible for the killing of cows encroaching into people’s farmlands. We also warn the terrorists not to attack any community in the areas. If they do, that means Fulani will no longer be allowed to do business in that market.”