Orlu Crisis

The Orlu Crisis was a military conflict that broke out in the city of Orlu, Nigeria when the Nigerian Army moved to crush the paramilitary wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the Eastern Security Network (ESN).[8] The conflict escalated after the ESN managed to repulse the initial push by the Nigerian Army.[3]

Orlu Crisis
Date22–28 January 2021[1]
Location
Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria
Result Both sides withdraw from Orlu[1]
Belligerents
 Nigeria IPOB
Commanders and leaders
Muhammadu Buhari
(President of Nigeria)
Ibrahim Tukura
(Brig. Gen. of 34 Brigade)[2]		 Nnamdi Kanu
(Leader of IPOB)
Units involved

Nigerian Armed Forces

Nigeria Police Force[4]

  • Imo State Police Command[4]
 Eastern Security Network
Strength
More than 400 soldiers[5] Unknown
Casualties and losses
4+ killed (As of January 26)[6] Unknown
10+ civilians dead[7]

Background

In August 2020, Nigerian police forces went to an IPOB meeting in Enugu and executed 21 unarmed IPOB members with two police officers dead. Both sides accused the other of firing the first shot.[9] Following the incident, IPOB pledged to retaliate and called on its members to start practicing self-defense.[10] In late-September, at least two Nigerian soldiers were killed during clashes with unidentified gunmen in Enugu; however, IPOB denied any involvement, announcing that "we are not armed and have no plans to pick up arms."[11]

On December 12, 2020, Kanu announced the formation of the ESN to protect Igbos against Fulani raiders. Unwilling to countenance the formation of a non-state-sanctioned paramilitary organization on its territory, the Nigerian government deployed the army to locate ESN camps two weeks later.[12]

Armed conflict

On January 22, Nigerian soldiers invaded Orlu to search for ESN operatives. Eight buildings were burnt and one person was killed in the ensuing events.[13] Security forces re-invaded the area three days later, clashing with the ESN and killing at least five people[14] before being repulsed by the ESN.[3] Four Nigerian soldiers were killed in the fighting.[6] The Nigerian Army withdrew, and in the following days, Nigerian Air Force planes and helicopters deployed to search for ESN operatives in and around Orlu.[3]

On January 28, more than 400 Nigerian soldiers were deployed to oust the ESN[5] and the authorities declared a curfew which was brutally enforced. The curfew and the anticipation of imminent heavy fighting caused civilians to flee the city en masse.[7] Later on the same day, Nnamdi Kanu declared a unilateral ceasefire and ordered the ESN withdraw from Orlu[15] to focus on Fulani raiders instead. Kanu claimed that this decision was based on intelligence information that revealed that the army and the police had agreed to withdraw from Orlu also.[1]

Aftermath

During the fighting, police officers of the Imo State Police were caught on video flogging civilians, possibly as punishment for curfew violations. After the ceasefire, at least ten police officers were arrested, and Commissioner of Police Nasiru Mohammed condemned their behavior.[4]

Days after the Orlu Crisis, IPOB gave all the governors of southeast Nigeria 14 days to ban open grazing, threatening to deploy the ESN to enforce a ban if the authorities did not do so.[16]

References
  1. Orlu: Nnamdi Kanu orders ESN to ceasefire against Army, watchful of Fulani herdsmen, Daily Post, Jan 28, 2021. Accessed Jan 28, 2021.
  2. ESN, ARMY CLASH IN ORLU: Mbazulike Amechi, MASSOB, others allege hidden agenda, Vanguard, Jan 27, 2021. Accessed Jan 30, 2021.
  3. Military Jet Combs Orlu Communities For ESN Operatives After Failed Land Combat, Sahara Reporters, Jan 27, 2021. Accessed Jan 28, 2021.
  4. [https://guardian.ng/news/imo-police-arrest-10-officers-for-abusing-orlu-residents/ Imo police arrest 10 officers for abusing Orlu residents], The Guardian, Jan 30, 2021. Accessed Jan 30, 2021.
  5. Tension heightens in Orlu as Nigerian govt deploys over 400 soldiers, Daily Post, Jan 28, 2021. Accessed Jan 28, 2021.
  6. Orlu killing: Imo State Eastern Security Network [ESN crisis kill four soldiers - Police, Nnamdi Kanu react], BBC, Jan 26, 2021. Accessed Jan 26, 2021.
  7. Orlu on standstill as residents desert town, The Nation, Jan 28, 2021. Accessed Jan 28, 2021.
  8. Orlu Crisis: Imo Eastern Security Network [ESN clash wit soldiers, Uzodinma impose curfew - Wetin we know so far], BBC, Jan 25, 2021. Accessed Jan 28, 2021. (Pidgin)
  9. Nigeria: New clashes after security forces break up meeting of Biafran separatists, France24, Aug 26, 2020. Accessed Aug 30, 2020.
  10. No meeting in Enugu for now, we will retaliate — IPOB, Vanguard, Aug 24, 2020. Accessed Aug 27, 2020.
  11. Nigeria: IPOB Denies Responsibility for Attacks On Security Agents in Southeast, AllAfrica, Sep 27, 2020. Accessed Sep 28, 2020.
  12. Nigerian Soldiers Resigned To Join Kanu’s Eastern Network – Military Sources, Sahara Reporters, Jan 22, 2021. Accessed Jan 22, 2021.
  13. Eastern Security Network: Over 8 buildings including church allegedly burnt, one feared dead in Imo, Vanguard, Jan 25, 2021. Accessed Jan 25, 2021.
  14. Soldiers Invade IPOB Eastern Security Network’s Operational Base, Kill Five, Burn Church, Others, SaharaReporters, Jan 25, 2021. Accessed Jan 25, 2021.
  15. Imo Clash: Nnamdi Kanu Orders ESN Operatives To Cease Fire, Return To Forests, Sahara Reporters, Jan 28, 2021. Accessed Jan 28, 2021.
  16. IPOB gives Southeast governors 14 days ultimatum to ban open grazing, The Nation, Jan 30, 2021. Accessed Jan 30, 2021.
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