A federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, heard that the Eastern Security Network (ESN) set up by the self-acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, is an illegal group, unlike the Amotekun established by South-West states.

     An official of the Department of State Services (DSS) made the distinction while testifying as the second prosecution witness in the ongoing terrorism trial of the IPOB leader.

     The witness, while being re-examined by the lawyer for the prosecution, Adegboyega Awomolo, said that, unlike Amotekun, which is backed by laws passed by the various Houses of Assembly of the six South-West states, ESN has no law supporting its existence.

      “ESN and Amotekun are not the same. I know that states in the South-West passed laws to legalise Amotekun. But ESN is not registered. ESN is illegal. Amotekun is recognised by law,” the witness said.

     The witness agreed that the Director General (DG) of the DSS once advocated for community policing efforts, under the guidance and approval of security agencies, as a measure against insecurity.

     Earlier, a defence lawyer, Paul Erokoro, tendered three video recordings contained in a flash drive, which the court admitted in evidence. The three video recordings were subsequently played in open court. 

    One of the videos showed the DG, DSS speaking at an event where he suggested that communities should endeavour to create a first line of defence against bandits and other invaders.

    The DSS cited examples of some communities that were able to repel invaders on some occasions, noting that it was practically impossible for security agencies to protect every society in the country.

     The DSS boss was heard saying: “The practical approach to mobilising people is to get everyone involved. It is impossible for security agencies to deploy to every part of the country.

      “What we need to do is to make communities set up the first line of defence. We have to allow some level of armament for the communities to rise and defend themselves first, but under the guidance and approval of security agencies. The time to start it is now.”

      When asked by Erokoro whether the DG DSS was not asking for communities to defend themselves, the witness emphasised that the DG stressed that such communities must come for guidance and approval from security agencies.

Another video showed former Defence Minister, General Theophilus Danjuma, addressing a gathering.Danjuma was heard, in the video, saying that members of the armed forces were not neutral in the ongoing killings across the country.

    “They collude with the armed bandits that kill people, that kill Nigerians. They facilitate their movements. They cover them. If you are depending on the armed forces to protect you, you will all die one by one,” Danjuma said in the video.

    When asked by Erokoro who the speaker in the video was, the witness confirmed that he was Danjuma.