Suspected ESN gunmen kill six oil workers for disobeying Ipob's sit-at-home order

UNIDENTIFIED gunmen suspected to the members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) have shot dead one policeman and six staff of the Leen Engineering firm working on the Assa North Gas Development Project in Imo State for disobeying at sit-at-home order.

Following the arrest of Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) leader Nnamdi Kanu in Kenya and his arraignment before an Abuja court, his supporters have called for sit-at-home protests across the southeast geo-political zone. These protests are to take place every Monday, although the latest one due today was called off, with Ipob saying that they will now only take place when Mr Kanu appears in court.

ESN, Ipob's armed wing, tends to enforce these ordered when issued, with its militants parading major cities and town to ensure compliance. Despite today's sit-at-home order cancelled at the last minute, word did not get around and there were major market boycotts across the southeast.

It now appears that ESN too did not get wind of the suspension of the protest and according to the Imo State Police Command, they attacked a convoy of the  multinational oil company at Etekuru junction in Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State this morning. Michael Abatam a spokesman for the Imo State Police Command, confirmed the incident, saying the police have commenced investigations into the killings.

One local resident added:  “The attack, which took place when the oil workers attached to Shell were moving from the staff quarters at Etekuru community to their project site at Asa community all in Ohaji Egbema council area, is regrettable because the staffers were asked to obey the Ipob -sit-at -home order. The gunmen suspected to be members of Ipob, allegedly killed one police escort and six staff members of Leen Engineering handling the Assa North Gas Development Project.”

Mr Abatam said that the police are trailing the men thought to be responsible for the attack. He advised local people to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious objects and behaviour to the police.