Explosive Denial: Otti Disowns Alleged Directive To ESN Against Fulani Herdsmen

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has dismissed claims that his administration enlisted members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) to combat insecurity in the state.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The governor was reacting to circulating rumours suggesting that his government had engaged the ESN to drive away Fulani herders and protect local farmers from attacks on their farmlands.

In a statement released on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Ferdinand Ekeoma, Governor Otti labelled the allegations as baseless, misleading, and deliberately aimed at sowing discord and creating unnecessary panic.

Ekeoma noted that similar false narratives had previously emerged but were ignored. However, due to the persistence of such fabrications, the government found it necessary to clarify the situation to prevent the public from being misled.

“The attention of the Abia State Government has been drawn to a post by an anonymous blogger alleging that His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, approved the involvement of IPOB’s Eastern Security Network (ESN) to confront Fulani herdsmen and safeguard Abia farmers, supposedly due to inaction by Nigerian security agencies,” Ekeoma said.

“We wish to categorically state that this claim is entirely false, malicious, and has no connection with the government of Abia State under Governor Alex Otti. It is a calculated attempt to incite unrest and cause undue anxiety.”

He reiterated that the Otti-led administration would never consider deploying non-state actors to handle security challenges in the state.

Instead, Ekeoma emphasized the government’s confidence in formal security agencies, which led to the creation of a joint security task force known as Operation Crush.

According to him, the task force has made notable strides in ensuring safety across the state, despite isolated incidents of kidnapping and robbery, which the government is actively addressing.

He concluded with a stern warning to those spreading falsehoods, noting that anyone caught inciting fear or violence through misinformation will face serious consequences under the law.