Man Accused Of Being ESN Informant Flees Country Amid Ongoing Threats

Over a year after narrowly escaping an attack by armed men in military uniform in his hometown of Okposi, Mr Michael Chijioke John, a native of Avu-Umuiwa, Okposi in Ohaozara local government area of Ebonyi State, has reportedly gone into hiding.

Michael is said to be on the run from security agencies and Fulani bandits, who suspect him of being an informant for the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

According to a family member, Mike Okorie, who spoke with LEADERSHIP via a phone call, Michael was forced to flee Nigeria in January 2023 after surviving an attack on his life.

“He left Nigeria last year in 2023 to USA, and because of the kidnapping experience he had, he is now seeking asylum,” Okorie said.

The attack, which took place in the Court area of Okposi, was allegedly carried out by gunmen dressed in military uniforms who suspected Michael of being an informant for the ESN.

Okorie disclosed that unknown individuals have been frequently spotted monitoring Michael’s family compound, heightening concerns about his safety and that of his relatives.

“The family fears that if these unknown actors do not find Michael, they too could become targets, particularly given the fate of others who have been extrajudicially killed after being accused of collaborating with the ESN or IPOB.”

An earlier report by Christian Ogbonna, published on December 4, 2022, detailed an incident where armed men in military uniform opened fire on Michael as he rode a motorbike in the Court area of Okposi.

Although he escaped unharmed, the attack fueled rumours in the community that Michael was being targeted for his alleged connections to the ESN. His kidnapping ordeal further intensified these suspicions at the hands of Boko Haram terrorists, after which the ESN allegedly made contact with him.