How We Killed 10 Girls For Fort*fication Rituals, Attacked Imo Prison, Police Stations

7 min read 1,266 words 0 views

Emeoyiri Benjamin, the commander of the Eastern Security
Network, the paramilitary arm of the Indigenous People of Biafra
(IPOB), has said the group members drew their powers from the
killing of 10 girls for rituals.

Benjamin was arrested recently after intense operations by
operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response
Team deployed in Imo.

He had played significant roles in some bloody attacks carried
out by the ESN in Imo State.

According to the 28-year-old Benjamin, he and his gang members
drew their power from charms prepared with the heads of 10 young
girls they abducted in the state.

Initiation

Nicknamed Onye Army, Benjamin joined ESN in 2020 and was trained
in a camp for two weeks.

Benjamin, who hailed from Uzombe town in Uguta, Imo State, said
he was approached by one John in 2019.

Having failed to secure a military job for a long time, John
advised him to join IPOB and he attended IPOB meetings in Orlu
every Sunday, until when Nnamdi Kanu formed ESN in November
2020.

He said he was one of the leading figures in the attack on
Owerri Custodial Centre, Imo Police Command headquarters, Orlu
Police Station and the home of the state Governor, Hope Uzodimma
attacks.

Hundreds of inmates escaped during the prison break and a
security personnel was killed in the governor’s residence in
Omuma.

Benjamin said: “I volunteered to join the ESN and I was trained
with many others from different parts of the country in a camp
close to the Niger Bridge.

“Before I went to the camp, I was living in a church in Orlu
owned by Nwachukwu. While at the camp, we were given military
training.

“After our training, we were given boots and uniforms and asked
to go back to our various state commanders. My state commander was
the late Ikonso. We were not given any money.

“When I got back to Imo State, I reported back to the church
which served as one of our camps at that time.

“Then, we got an order that there shouldn’t be any police or
military checkpoints in the South-East.

“All the ESN state commanders asked their fighters to comply
with the order. I also obeyed the order because I have taken an
oath.”

Revenge

According to him, they attacked Uzodimma’s house to avenge the
killing of a top ESN commander, one Ikonso.

Their first escapade was an attack on a police checkpoint in
Orlu during which three security operatives were killed in a fierce
gun battle.

And when their camp in Orlu was busted by police operatives,
they relocated to Anambra State, where they renewed attacks on
police formations.

He added: “Ikonso, one Engineer Mike and Temple organised the
attack on the Owerri Prison and Imo State Police Command
headquarters.

“We stole 50 police rifles. We were over 100 fighters who went
for the operation but on our way back, some soldiers attacked us
and many of our fighters were killed.

“We carried out a few other attacks on security formations in
Imo and Anambra states before Ikonso was killed in his residence.
After his death, we burnt the governor’s house and killed a
security man.”

At least, 30 people have been killed, according to Benjamin to
avenge Ikonso’s death.

He stated: “We went in 10 vehicles. We tied white and red
clothes on our bodies for protection against bullets. We prepared
the charms with the heads of 10 young girls.

“Temple and Mike came up with the suggestion to use the girls
for the charms and we abducted them in Imo State.

“Unfortunately, before we got to the Orlu Police Station, a
police armoured vehicle attacked us and killed 12 of our fighters
and injured four others.”