By Emmanuel Obisue
With tensions mounting ahead of the sit-at-home directive issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, the Nigerian military has moved to reassure students sitting for the West African Examination Council, WAEC exams of their safety.
Nigerian Pilot reports that the exams are scheduled to take place across Anambra State and the broader South-East region, where IPOB’s influence has previously disrupted public life.
The outlawed group had ordered a sit-at-home order on Friday, May 29 and 30, to commemorate Biafra Day.
Colonel Adamu Mohammed, Commander of Sector 5 under Operation UDO KA, gave the assurance during a press briefing on Wednesday while speaking to Defence Correspondents who came on a tour of operational theatres.
Briefing newsmen in at its base in Orsumoghu, Ihiala Local Government Area — a region once considered a stronghold of IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, Colonel Mohammad highlighted the joint efforts of various security agencies to safeguard examination centers during the IPOB-declared sit-at-home scheduled for May 29 and 30.
“All necessary arrangements have been made to ensure that students can sit for their WAEC exams without fear or disruption,” he said. “We have intensified patrols around schools and potential hotspots to prevent any form of threat or violence,” he added.
The sit-at-home order was declared by IPOB to honuor what the group calls its “fallen heroes.” The announcement has raised concerns among residents, particularly parents and students preparing for the crucial school-leaving examinations.
Colonel Mohammad, however, downplayed the group’s capacity to enforce the order, describing IPOB’s tactics as fear-driven and rooted in misinformation.
“They typically stage attacks in remote areas, kill one or two individuals, and then circulate the footage online to stir panic,” he explained. “We are committed to stopping this cycle of fear. Our troops are fully deployed and ready to secure every exam center.”
He also revealed that military forces, in collaboration with local vigilantes and other security outfits, have cleared IPOB and ESN elements from their base in Orsumoghu — a development he said marks a turning point in the region’s security.
“This area was once a hub for IPOB and ESN activity,” he said. “But our persistent operations have successfully reclaimed Orsumoghu and surrounding communities. Though they’ve tried to return, they’ve been met with strong resistance and defeat.”
The military’s intensified presence has helped restore calm, and authorities continue to encourage local residents to remain alert and report any suspicious activity.
