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Eastern Security Network
Flag of the ESN
Leader	Nnamdi Kanu
Allegiance	Indigenous People of Biafra
Ideology	Biafran nationalism
Battles and wars	Orlu Crisis

The Eastern Security Network (ESN) is a regional security force and a paramilitary wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a movement whose aim is to restore the independence of Biafra, which has been defunct since the 1967-1970 Nigerian Civil War. The ESN´s stated goal is to combat the menace of Fulani Herdsmen killings in the Biafraland region which corresponds roughly to areas belonging to the old Eastern Region of Nigeria, mainly today´s so called South-South and South-East zones. It was founded by the IPOB Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on 12 December 2020 and commenced operations almost immediately following his proclamation of its creation in a broadcast. The annoucement was met with resounding applause by supporters of the movement even more so by those in the diaspora who have long decried the rampage of the Fulani Herdsmen amid what most view as collaboration by Nigerian security forces who are unwilling to tackle the menace.

History

Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, announced the formation of the ESN on December 12, 2020. The stated aim was to act as a regional security force to protect people against Fulani raiders. However, the Nigerian government saw the ESN as a threat to its authority, and deployed the army to locate and destroy ESN bases. This escalated with the outbreak of the Orlu Crisis a month later. The military confrontation lasted for seven days, until ESN declared a unilateral ceasefire and both sides withdrew from the city.

Shortly 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. However, the ESN did not wait 14 days; a few days later, ESN operatives attacked a Fulani camp in Isuikwuato, Abia State, killing their livestock and burning down their houses.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).

References

1. Allison, Simon. "Mystery of the missing Biafran separatist". The M&G Online. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
2. Nigerian Soldiers Resigned To Join Kanu’s Eastern Network – Military Sources, Sahara Reporters, Jan 22, 2021. Accessed Jan 22, 2021.
3. Military Jet Combs Orlu Communities For ESN Operatives After Failed Land Combat, Sahara Reporters, Jan 27, 2021. Accessed Jan 28, 2021.
4. Orlu: Nnamdi Kanu orders ESN to ceasefire against Army, watchful of Fulani herdsmen, Daily Post, Jan 28, 2021. Accessed Jan 28, 2021.
5. IPOB gives Southeast governors 14 days ultimatum to ban open grazing, The Nation, Jan 30, 2021. Accessed Jan 30, 2021.

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