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ESN Commander Makes Confession On How His Group Engaged in a Killing Spree Across the Southeast Region

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The suspect, Emeoyiri Uzorma Benjamin, alias Onye Army, was arrested by operatives of the Force Intelligence Response Team over his alleged involvement in the attacks, killing of security operatives and the destruction of government and private property in Imo State.

Benjamin also confessed to being part of the attacks on security operatives on the alleged instruction of their supreme leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

He also claimed that the heads of 10 girls caught in Imo State were used in preparing charms to fortify members of the group against police bullets.

Read Benjamin’s confession below

“I am Emeoyiri Uzorma Benjamin, also known as Onye Army. I am from Uzombe Town in Uguta  Local Government Area of Imo State, I am 28-year-old. I only attended secondary school. But I left school without writing my SSCE exams in 2014 because my father had no money.

“So, I started doing menial jobs and buying Nigeria Army forms and that of the Nigerian Navy, but I was not recruited because I was using my brother’s result. I intended to write my exam and get my result when I get drafted into the army.

“I also went to Lagos, where I secured a job as a security guard with a company that dealt in building materials. I did that job until 2017, when I relocated to my village, where I engaged in carpentry jobs.

“While I was in the village, one John, who is from my town, met me and told me he knew I was trying to join the military but advised me to join IPOB in 2019, so I started attending IPOB meetings in Orlu every Sunday. We used to have the meetings in a building close to the Teaching Hospital.

“I attended the meeting until November 2020 when Mazi Nnamdi Kanu formed the ESN and said he didn’t want any security agents in the South East and that all he wanted was just ESN operatives providing Security in the South East.

“I volunteered to join the ESN and I was trained in a camp close to the Niger Bridge, but I don’t know the name of the village. I spent two weeks in that camp with several other people who came for ESN training from several parts of the country.

“Some people had been in the camp before I joined them but I spent just two weeks in the centre. Before I went to the centre, however, I was at a Sabbath Church in Orlu owned by one Alewa Nwachuku in the Okporo area of Orlu.

“While at the camp, we were given military training and our phones were taken from us. We were not talking to Nnamdi Kanu directly, but we were receiving his instructions from our camp leaders. After our training, we were given boots and uniforms and were asked to go back to our state commanders.

“My state commander was late Ikonso, who was in charge of Imo State before his death. We were not given any money; we returned to our commanders with just the uniforms and the boots. When we got back to Imo State, I reported back to the Sabbath Church, which served as one of our camps at that time.

“Then Nnamdi Kanu ordered that he didn’t want to see any police or military checkpoint in the South East. The order was given through radio, and all the ESN State Commanders asked their fighters to comply with the orders.

“Nnamdi Kanu said we should dismantle all checkpoints and even kill the security agents manning the checkpoints because they were killing Igbo people. I believed him and obeyed the order because I had taken an oath to obey Nnamdi Kanu, the supreme leader of IPOB.

“During our first attack, Ikonso brought two AK47 rifles while two of our members brought two locally made guns which we used to attack a police checkpoint in Orlu where we killed a police officer.

“Two of our members were also killed but the police officers ran away, abandoning their vehicle, which we burnt and took away one of the police rifles. After the operation, we all returned to the Sabbath church owned by Alewa but the police came and attacked the place.

“We then relocated to a farm belonging to one of our members in the Eele area of Awidemili, Anambra State. From there, we attacked several other police stations and checkpoints.

“Then Ikonso, Engineer Mike and Temple organized the attack at the Owerri Prisons and Imo State Police Command, where several inmates were freed and more than 50 police rifles were carted away on the instruction of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu because he said nobody deserved to be in prison.

“We came with over 100 fighters, but on our way back to our base, some soldiers attacked us and many of our fighters were killed at Ukorji area of Imo State. We carried out other attacks on security formations in Imo and Anambra states before Ikonso was killed. I was in his residence on the night he was attacked by security agents. I fought with my Ak47 rifle, but I abandoned it and escaped through the back gate when I expended all the bullets in the rifle.

“After the death of Ikonso, we went and burnt the governor’s house and killed a security man in the house in retaliation. It was Engr Mike that led us. I was part of those that shot at the gate.

“We also burnt a house in Amowmama, belonging to someone who was believed to have given the security agents information on Ikonso. Engr Mike then took us to his village in Awedemili, where we attacked a house belonging to someone he said was against our struggle and we killed two persons there.

“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu also directed us to bury Ikonso with 2,000 human heads but we have killed only 30 so far. I then relocated to Temple’s camp and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu ordered us to attack Orlu Police Division and free our fighters arrested and detained there.

“We went in 10 vehicles, over 50 fighters and we had over 30 rifles with us. I was in a white sienna and the late Dragon was in a red-coloured car, but before we got to the police station, we did a shooting display that was circulated on social media on the day we went to attack Orlu police station.

“The white and red clothes we tied on our bodies in the video were charms which we call local bulletproof and we prepared charms with the heads of 10 young girls.

“Before we proceeded to attack the Orlu Police Station, Temple and Mike brought the suggestion that we should get the girls we used for the charms and we got them here in Imo State. But before we got to the Orlu police station, an armoured police vehicle attacked us and killed 12 of our fighters and injured four.

“After we escaped from that attack, we went to our camp at Idiato to relax, waiting for further directives. They are not paying us any money; they said we are freedom fighters.

“Most of the police officers I killed were also Igbo people. I am happy that Nnamdi has been arrested. But I am begging for amnesty from the Federal Government.”

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Airlin Advocacy Commissions Jos Office, Targets 7m Members By Next Elections,Says Mohammed Gamawa

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During the inauguration ceremony, the National Chairman of Airlin, Mohammed Gamawa, delivered a keynote address, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to educating Nigerians on their civic rights and responsibilities.

According to Gamawa, Airlin aims to bridge the gap between citizens and the principles of the rule of law by fostering a society where people understand not only their rights but also what is expected of them by the country.

“Our goal is to foster interaction among Nigerians, promote respect for the rule of law, and ensure citizens know their rights and civic responsibilities — such as voting to elect future leaders not based on materialism but based on integrity and competence,” Gamawa stated.

He added that understanding and exercising one’s franchise, especially during elections, must go hand in hand with being law-abiding and fully aware of civil responsibilities.

As part of its mission, Airlin is currently targeting 19 states in Northern Nigeria, with Jos becoming the 15th state to be commissioned.

The ceremony also featured the appointment of state and local government coordinators who will help drive the organization’s grassroots advocacy efforts.

With a current membership base of 2.1 million Nigerians aged 18 and above, Airlin projects a significant growth trajectory, aiming to reach 7 million members before the next general elections.

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Nothing new in FBI report on Tinubu, says Onanuga

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Senior Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga has dismissed a report of a United State (U.S.) court ordering two law enforcement agencies to release information on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a “purported federal investigation in the 1990s.”

In a tweet on his verified X handle, Onanuga told those agitated by the directive that there would be nothing revealing in the anticipated report.

In an April 9 ruling, District Court for the District of Columbia Judge, Beryl Howell ordered the Department of State, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to release the information to Mr. Allan Greenspan.

The information being sought by Greenspan was classified as “confidential information” generated during a “purported federal investigation in the 1990s.”

Judge Howell said that protecting the information from public disclosure “is neither logical nor plausible.”

Commenting on the ruling, Onanuga said: “There is nothing new to be revealed. The report by Agent Moss of the FBI and the DEA report have been in the public space for more than 30 years. The reports did not indict the Nigerian leader”, Onanuga said yesterday.

He said that counsel to the President have been “examining the ruling”.

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Oyetola Leads Nigeria’s Strategic Bid for IMO Council Seat, Aiming for Global Maritime Influence

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Nigeria is setting sail towards a greater role in international maritime affairs as it bids for election into Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council.

Leading this ambitious push is the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola (CON), whose vision is to position Nigeria as a dominant force in global shipping and maritime governance.

The IMO, a specialized United Nations agency responsible for regulating international shipping, holds its Council elections later this year. Category C is specifically reserved for nations with significant interests in maritime transport and trade, providing them with a platform to contribute to shaping global maritime policies. For Nigeria, securing a seat is not just a diplomatic pursuit it represents a strategic leap forward for economic growth, regional leadership, and maritime security.

At the heart of this campaign is Nigeria’s intention to amplify its voice in international maritime decisions. Membership in the IMO Council would afford the country a pivotal role in the formulation of regulations and policies that affect shipping, safety, environmental protection, and trade. This influence would allow Nigeria to safeguard both its national interests and those of the broader West African sub region.

Economic prospects tied to the blue economy form another cornerstone of Nigeria’s bid. With a coastline stretching over 850 kilometers and a maritime domain rich in resources, Nigeria is aggressively advancing its blue economy agenda. A seat at the IMO table is expected to draw foreign investment, stimulate port infrastructure development, and enhance trade efficiency all in line with President Bola Tinubu’s broader strategy for economic diversification.

Maritime security is also high on the agenda. Nigeria, which has made considerable strides in curbing piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, sees IMO Council membership as a means of deepening international collaboration, adopting global best practices, and enhancing safety standards along its waterways.

The campaign also underscores Nigeria’s commitment to human capital development. By aligning more closely with the IMO, Nigeria aims to provide its maritime professionals especially young people with increased access to global training programs and capacity building initiatives. This would help nurture a new generation of skilled seafarers, engineers, and administrators capable of competing on the world stage.

Nigeria’s regional leadership is also in focus. As Africa’s largest economy, the country seeks to use its potential IMO seat to drive greater cooperation among African maritime nations, promote sustainable development, and project a unified continental voice in international maritime diplomacy.

In addition, Nigeria anticipates increased access to technical support and maritime innovation through IMO engagement. This includes advancements in shipping technology, logistics modernization, and enhanced port management critical components for a thriving maritime industry.

Oyetola’s Vision and Commitment

Oyetola, since his appointment, has consistently emphasized the need for Nigeria to embrace its maritime identity and assert its global relevance. His advocacy for Category C membership has been described by stakeholders as a bold and necessary step in unlocking the full potential of the sector.

“Nigeria must take its rightful place on the global maritime stage. Our waters, our people, and our potential deserve nothing less,” Oyetola affirmed during a recent stakeholders’ engagement on the bid.

As the IMO elections approach, there is growing optimism that Nigeria’s strategic location, extensive maritime assets, and clear policy direction will earn it a seat at one of the most influential tables in global shipping. The journey to Category C may be competitive, but with strong leadership at the helm, Nigeria is navigating with purpose and promise.

Jamiu Omookose

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