Many residents of the Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have deserted the community following heavy military operations believed to be targeted at bandits staying in Ikot Akpan forest in the area.
Residents told newsmen that the aerial surveillance and bombardment of the forest started on Monday and lasted till Tuesday afternoon.
It was learnt that the military believed the forest harboured elements of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and some other armed bandits who have been terrorising the entire eastern part of the country.
Recall that some gunmen attacked the Imo State police command headquarters and the Nigerian Correctional Service in Owerri, the state capital on Monday. Over 1,844 inmates were freed, while buildings and over 36 vehicles were torched.
The Essien Udim LGA, where the Minister of Niger Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio, hails from, has been under attacks by gunmen, who have been killing cops and destroying their facilities.
Some unknown gunmen in February of this year attacked the police at the Ikpe Annang junction, where a police inspector was set ablaze inside a police van.
They also attacked Ikot Afanga community and killed an inspector of police identified as Aniekan, while a divisional police station and several vehicles in the LGA were burnt.
Three police officers, including a chief superintendent of police, Ben Ajide, were killed and four others declared missing in a failed reprisal carried out by the police against the hoodlums on March 31, 2021.
The latest military operation is hoped to bring some sanity into the entire south-eastern part of the country.
It is not clear if there were casualties and if any arrests were made.
