IPOB confirms ESN arms deal with Cameroonian separatists
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and a pro-independence movement in western Cameroon, ‘Ambazonia Governing Council’ (AGovC), have agreed to exchange weapons and personnel to help them achieve their common goal of “freedom”.
This is according to IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful.
“It’s true. We are growing day by day. We need to strengthen ourselves,” he confirmed.
Powerful’s confirmation came following a report by US-based Foreign Policy that both groups were forging an alliance.
The report said:
“The scope of the alliance will include joint operations and training bases, Capo Daniel, the deputy defense chief of the Ambazonia Defense Forces, the military wing of the Ambazonia Governing Council said.
“The groups will work to secure their shared border and ensure an open exchange of weapons and personnel, representatives of both the Ambazonia and IPOB movements said.”
IPOB named its militia wing the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Created in 2012 by Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB has over the years condemned the Nigerian government for its poor investment, inequitable resource distribution, marginalisation, and heavy military presence in the South-East.
The group demanded the restoration of an independent state of Biafra in the region through an independence referendum.
On its part, AGovC, fights to carve out Cameroon’s English-speaking North-West and South-West regions into a breakaway state called Ambazonia. Grievances of Anglophone Cameroonians date back to 1961, when the region was granted independence from Britain.
